
MEMORIAL EXERCISES 



HELD IN 



CASTLETOK, VERMONT, IN THE YEAR 1885; 



INCLUDING 



THE ADDRESSES, BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, REMINISCENCES, LIST 

OF THE GRAVES DKCORATED, ROSTER OF THE VETERANS 

IN LINE, GIVING COMPANY AND REGIMENT, HISTORY 

OF PREVIOUS MEMORIAL DAYS IN CASTLETON, 

AND AN ACCOUNT OF THE RELICS 

EXHIBITED. 




COMPILED BY 



JOHN M. CURRIER, M. D., 



SECRETARY OF THE MEMORIAL ORGANIZATION 



w 



Issued under tue auspices op the Rutland County '' 



m 



ALBANY, N. " 
JOEL MUNSELL'f 
1885. 



m 



\ 



if Af 1 liiiAi iiiii: 

CASTLETON, VERMONT. 

[Rutland Count)' Grammar School, 1787. Normal School, 1867.] 




ABEL E. LEAVENWORTH, A.M., Principal and Proprietor. 

Miss LOUISA M. LEAVENWORTH. Associate. 

^^ss ABBIE E. LEONARD, Miss LUCY WELLS. Miss FANNIE C. TAYLOR, 

Miss ELEANOR L. MANLEY, Assistant Teachers. 

full courses of study: the Jirnt lor two years, in the studies of the common schools, secnres, 

•ation, certificates to teach in imy public echool of the State for Jive years : the second, for 

half years more, secures cei-tiflcates to teach for fen years, and qualifies for the higher 

per year of twenty weeks each, one beginning the third Tuesday in February and 
Hrd Tvesday in August Each term is divided into two quarters of ten weeks each, 
eceived (or a fialf term of ten weeks, 

entyiour dollars per year, or Six dollars per quarter. Free tuition is given by 
J8 to those complying with the conditions of the s-ame, but for a period of not less 
twenty weeks. 

Ded in the family of the Principal, with the other teachers, for three dollars and 
;ek. Rooms for self-bojirding are also furnished in the school building for ff/y 

. aims to secure accurate and broad scholarship and gives an admirable preparation, 

teaching, hnt {or any luture calling the pupil may elect to pursue, by reason of the 

scipline and self-control attained through its training. It is steadily increasing the 

graduates, whose good work is, iu turn, increasing and extending the patronage of 

^e part of the public. 



i'*' of the Grammar School and Seminary and the Twentieth Anniversary of 
observed in 1887. 



CATIONS OF THE 

'TY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. 

pp. 196. Paper. $2.00, cloth, - $2 ^'^ 

pp. 200. Double columns, - - 2 50 

ristening the Island of Neshobe, July 

- ' - 1 00 

Neshobe Island, by John M. Currier, 

"■-ER, Secretary, CASTLETON, Vt. 



MEMORIAL EXERCISES 



HELD IN 



CASTLETON, VERMONT, IN THE YEAR 1885; 



INCLUDING 



THE ADDRESSES, BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, REMINISCENCES, LIST 

OF THE GRAVES DECORATED, ROSTER OF THE VETERANS 

IN LINE, GIVING COMPANY AND REGIMENT, HISTORY 

OF PREVIOUS MEMORIAL DAYS IN CASTLETON, 

AND AN ACCOUNT OF THE RELICS 

EXHIBITED. 



COMPILED BY 

JOHN m!^currier, m. d. 



SECRETARY OF THE MEMORIAL ORGANIZATION. 



Issued under the auspices op the Rutland Countt Historical Societt. 



ALBANY, N. Y. : 

JOEL MUNSELL'S SONS. 

1885. 



.cri 



J> 3 3 0, I 



A 



INTRODUCTION 



It was thought best this year to vary the program of exercises on 
Memorial Day in Castleton, from the old custom of set speeches, an 
hour or more in length, by some " sprigs of the law," or some dress- 
parade soldiers of a fresh-water type, and call out for speakers 
genuine, scarred, maimed, salt-water sailors and soldiers, who have 
endured the hardships and privations of a long, cruel war, and let 
them tell their own stories. Far better will it be for historical 
science to record the details of actual experiences of life in camp 
and on the field of battle, from the soldiers themselves, than to print 
a spread-eagle speech filled with flowery expi-essions for effect, but 
devoid of the least historical untold fact. The soldiers' stories go 
home to the hearts of their kindred and friends for generations that 
follow, but the euphonious address is forgotten before the audience 
reach home. 

War history is never completed. It never can be until the 
smallest facts are brought in by individuals. This is what is pro- 
posed for the occasion of Memorial Day exercises, to bring in the 
details. There is no better time nor more fitting occasion. Every 
year the number of graves of soldiers to be decorated are increas- 
ing, and correspondingly a lesser number are left to relate the sad 
data of history. 

We fondly cherish the memory of those who have lost or periled 
their lives for their and our country. There is a sad and mournful 
pleasure derived in placing flowers upon their graves. Equally so 
is it to rehearse the story of their lives and military career ; though 
the sad and mirthful may sometimes mingle. 

The citizens and soldiers of Castleton decided to make this in- 
novation into the old custom of long, dry speeches and in their 
place, have a program made up of biographical sketches of officers 
and soldiers, reminiscences of the war, and contributions of in- 
terest, by the participatoi's themselves. Accordingly a meeting 



was called to be held at the residence of B. W. Burt, Esq., on 
Friday evening, May 22d, to make proper arrangements to carry 
out the plan. When the evening arrived, both the citizens and 
soldiers were well represented by enthusiastic delegates, and the 
following arrangements were made : 

Capt. Abel E, Leavenworth was chosen president ; Hon. J. B. 
Bromley and Michael Hynes, vice-presidents; John M, Currier, 
secretary ; Rev. Levi H. Stone, chaplain ; Misses Fanny C. Taylor, 
Mary C. Northrop, Helen I. Sherman, Alice Delehanty and Hallie 
Foster, floral committee; Chas. C. Bromley, Henry L. Clark and F. 
L. Reed, finance committee ; Chas. C. Bromley, committee on 
music; James Durham and Daniel E. Bibbins, grave-markers. The 
principal officers were to act as executive committee. 

The John T. Sennott Post, G. A. R., of West Rutland, was in- 
vited to be present on Memorial Day and take part in the exercises; 
which was accepted. 

Much credit should be given to the floral committee for their 
labor in pi*eparing bouquets and wreaths for decoration, and for the 
very fine display of the flower wagon; to the teachers and pupils of 
the Normal school for their aid to the floral committee and much 
other preliminary work; to the citizens of Castleton for their con- 
tributions in money for liquidating purposes, and for their contribu- 
tions of flowers; and lastly to the authors of papers who have con- 
tributed such valuable historical material. 

John M. Currier. 

Cdstleton, Vermont^ June 27, 1885. 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE DAY- 



Memorial Day in Castleton dawned somewhat cloudy, but without 
much appearance of raiu; it remained fair all through the day. The 
attendance was the largest ever observed in this town on similar 
occasions. The John T. Sennott Post, G. A. R., of West Rutland, 
and Veterans of this vicinity, were received in front of the Bomoseen 
House, by the Normal Guards, accompanied by the Castleton 
Cornet Band and Drum Corps, under the Marshalship of Capt. 
Abel E. Leavenworth, and were escorted to the Normal School 
Park, wheie the procession was formed at 10 o'clock a. m., in the 
following order: 

Marshal of the Day, 

Castleton Cornet Band and Drum Corps, 

Normal Guards, under command of Lieuts. P. R. Leavenworth and 

H. M. McLitosh, as escorts, 
John T. Sennott Post G. A. R.. of West Rutland under the Com- 
mand of George Brown, 
Veteran of 1812,* 
Veterans of the Late War, 
Wagon beautifully trimmed with flowers, evergreens and banners, 
guarded by five young Normal Guards, 
Officers of the Day, 
Speakers, 
Faculty of the State Normal School, 

Pupils of the State Normal School, 

Teachers and Pupils of other Schools, 

Citizens on Foot, 

Citizens in Carriages. 



*This place ia the procession was assigned to Hyde Westover, Esq., the last 
surviving soldier of 1812, in Castleton, but as the horse that was to draw his 
carriage, was afraid of music, he preferred walking to riding, and thus the 
occasion was not deprived of his dignified presence. Many hearts were stirred 
with patriotic fervor at the lively interest he took in the exercises of the day. 
His age was 89, Feb. 18. The first president he voted for was John Quincy 
Adams in 1824. 



6 

The line of march was through Seminary and Main streets, and 
Cemetery avenue to Hillside Cemetery. A hollow square was 
formed around the grave of the gallant Lieut. George O. French, 
where the principal exercises were held. The order of exercises 
were as follows : 



Prayer by the Rev. Levi H. Stone, Chaplain 1st Regt. Vt. 

Vols. 

Our Father who art in Heaven, behold us in love and mercy, 
gathered as we are on these consecrated grounds where sleep our 
loved ones in the silence of the grave. We worship thee, as God 
over all and blessed forever. We laud and magnify thy name. 
True it is, that thou art incomprehensible to man, because thou art 
Infinite and man is finite, but throu^ thy works, we discover evi- 
dences of thy Being and perfections. 

The Heavens declare thy glory, and the firmament showeth thy 
handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech and night unto night 
showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language where their 
voice is not heard. 

We have evidence that man is made to think, and by study we 
increase in knowledge of earthly and Divine things. 

The revolving seasons of the year by the order of their movements, 
the material world with its numercius laws, extending from the 
creepino- violet to the oak and the cedar, and from the most triffling 
of the insect world to the boldest and most terrible of animals on 
the land and in the sea, laws so exactly and perpetually executed, 
are evidences to man, of the existence of the Deity; and that thine 
is the ownership of the Universe. 

In humility, believingly and penitently would we approach Thee 
on this most deeply interenting anniversary occasion. We are 
gathered here to-day, to testify in floral offerings, and other ser- 
vices our remembrances of our kindred and countrymen, who fell 
in the bloody contest for order and law, against Rebellion, and 
consequent anarchy, in 1861-2-3-4-5. While we mourn that an 
occasion required the sacrifice, we ought to be thankful that it was 
readily and heroically laid upon the altar of Freedom and Consti- 
tutional law. Thy Son, O, our heavenly Father was given for the 
Redemption of man, so our sons, our brothers, our fathers and 



friends were given for the defense and perpetuation of our beloved 
Nation. Hard and cruel as it was, the necessity was Divinely per- 
mitted to be. The wrath of man shall praise thee, and the re- 
mainder of wrath thou wilt restrain. 

A great National evil was crushed and swept away, as one of the 
effects of the war, and shall it not be that a more just appreciation 
of the value of Freedom and justice between men and all portions of 
our country shall prevail, and all bitterness and wrath and evil sur- 
mising, and every root of bitterness, be put away, and all conten- 
tion hereafter be for truth and righteousness; and swords be beaten 
into plough shares and spears into pruning hooks. Upon our 
entire Nation we supplicate the Divine favor. Make our country 
to be, like the smell of 2,. field which the Lord hath blest. 

Upon all our institutions of Benevolence, the asylums for the 
Deaf and Dumb, for the insane, for the wretched in city and country, 
upon our prisons where ill-deserving men and women are confined, 
let reforming influences be wisely and faithfully exerted. Upon 
the families bereaved of husbands, sons and brothers because of the 
war, and upon wounded soldiers who survive; upon all these bestow 
great mercy and favor. Now Lord, what wait we for? Here 
among the dead, are we reminded of the possibilities, that await 
us. So fit us for life and death, that our lives may be happy and 
useful and our end be peace. And to the Father, Son and Holy 
Spirit be praise everlasting. Amen. 



Opening Address by Capt. Abel E. Leavenworth.* 

Comrades of the G. A. JR., Other Veterans of the Civil War, and 
Ladies and Gentlemen : 

It affords me gratification to welome you to a participation in the 
memorial services of the day. Here no creed, or political bias de- 
bars any, but a common love for country and a universal desire to 
do reverence to the patriotism and sacrifices of our heroic and 



* Prof. Leavenworth was captain of Co. K., Ninth Regiment of Vermont Vol- 
unteers. He served two years as Inspector General and Adjutant General in 
the Army of the James ; led the skirmish line into Richmond, April 3, 1865; 
and was Assistant Provost Marshal of Richmond during the first month of its 
occupation by the Union forces after the collapse of the Rebellion. 



8 

kindred dead, actuate us all to express, by these beautiful floral 
offerings, as well as by our presence, our grateful appreciation of 
their services in our behalf. 

It is for the living that we do this loving service, that we may 
kindle anew our own zeal, and more than all else, teach our child- 
ren the lesson that man may suffer and cheerfully give even his life 
for his country's liberties. The last remnant of the heroes of the 
Revolution has passed from earth. The memory of their valor is 
paling with the receding years. A few only are left of those who 
in the war of 1812, did valiant service for the preservation of the 
infant nation, established by Washington and his compeers. One 
we gladly welcome here to-day, and are proud to be honored by his 
presence and to be permitted to listen to words of his dictation for 
this occasion. The hei'oes of the second war for Independence we 
do not forget. The undying valor displayed by Vermont troops in 
both these, as attested by the battles of Hubbardton, Bennington 
and Lake Champlain, shall ever remain as fresh in our hearts. as to 
our eyes are the beautiful adorning of the hills and valleys, the 
woodlands and meadows, that environ us to-day. 

But our thoughts, on this occasion, turn chiefly to the brave 
achievements of more recent times. As we read upon the tombstones 
about us the testimony of lives offered up a country to save, as we 
look about us and see gathered around us men who were members 
of every arm of the service and who stand here to-day as living 
witnesses of noble daring upon many a well contested field, where 
shot and shell rent the air and tore the flesh of their comrades, 
there rise up before us vivid pictures of the imperishable record 
engraved, not upon perishable marble or granite, but upon the hearts 
of a grateful country that will not let their memory die, of the 
First Vermont regiment at Big Bethel and the Second at Bull 
Run ; of the Old Brigade at Lee's Mills, at Fredericksburg, at 
Mayre's Height, at Bank's Ford, at South Mountain, in the Wilder- 
ness, at Spottsylvania, at Cold Harbor, before Petersburgh, at 
• Charleston, Fisher's Hill and Cedar Creek, whose valorous achieve- 
ments time does not permit, had words the power to delineate; of 
the Seventh at Vicksburgh, Baton Rouge, Gonzales Station, Spanish 
Fort and Whistler ; of the Eighth at Cotten, Bisland, Port Hud- 
son, Winchester, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek and Newton ; of the 
Ninth at Harper's Ferry, Suffolk, Newport, Chapin's Farm, Fair 
Oaks and Richmond; of the Tenth at Orange Grove, the Wilder- 



ness, and thence with the Old Brigade to Petersburgh and Sailor's 
Creek; of the Eleventh baptized in blood at Spottsylvania and 
immortalized with the Old Brigade, in the scenes of carnage that 
followed, ending at Sailor's Creek; of the Second Brigade, at 
Gettysburgh, where a record that commanded the admiration 
of veterans and gave a victory that made that battle the turn- 
ing point of the war ; of the Seventeenth which first paraded 
as a regiment in the Wilderness, fought nobly all the way to 
Petersburgh, and came out of Fort Hell with two line officers and 
but a handful of men; of the Cavalry upon whose banners are embla- 
zoned the record of seventy-three fights; of the Batteries at Pleas- 
ant Hill and Port Hudson; and of the Sharpshooters in the van 
guard of the army of the Potomac. What a record ! ! It is as 
grand and enduring as are these eternal hills which nursed these 
giant heroes upon their brawny breasts and nestled them in their 
rugged arms, and thus trained them to the endurance that fits men 
with sinews of iron and hearts of steel to know no fear when 
country and home and liberty are at stake. To do honor to the 
memory of such men you are, my fi'iends, invited to-day. May the 
God of battles help us to kindle anew the zeal of the pure and lofty 
patriotism, with the sacred fire that glows upon the altar upon 
which our precious dead were off"ered up, that we may become brave 
to fight the battles with vice and immorality, with greed and place- 
seeking, and the horde of kindred enemies to our country's peace 
and prosperity, and come out from them with escutcheons as bright 
and untarnished as did these heroes from carnal warfare. 

But no more of this hour is mine. Let us turn to the memo- 
rial services that now demand our attention. 



Exercises of the State Normal School. 

The exercises of the State Normal School were rendered in an 
impressive manner, in the following order : 

1. Recitation by Wm. A. Manley, of Benson, Vt., first corporal 
of the Normal Guards, entitled " Our Heroes.'''' 

2. Recitation by Miss Jennie L. Graves, of the " A" class at the 
Normal School, entitled " The Soldiers' Graves.'''' 

3. Recitation by eight children of soldiers, (of whom there are 
eighteen in the Normal School,) each of whom repeated impres- 



10 

sively one stanza of Will Carlton's touching poem, " Cover them 
Overy 

Following are the names with service of parents : 
Mary C. Burt, daughter of Dunham G. Burt of Castleton. Mr. 
Burt entered the service as artificer of the First Light Artil- 
lery, Dec. 9, 1861, and was transferred to the Regular Artillery, 
Nov. 19, 1862, serving five years. 

Florence M. Bixby, daughter of Marquis J. Bixby of Castleton. 
Mr. Bixby enlisted Aug. 29, 1862, in the Sixteenth Regiment of 
Vermont Vols., Co. C; was wounded. 

Agnes G. Stowell, youngest daughter of Lieut. Col. Edwin F. 
Stowell. Col. Stowell entered the service as captain Co. F. 5th 
Vermont Vols., September 4, 1861. Was appointed major of the 9th 
Vermont, June 21, 1862, and lieutenant colonel, March 20, 1863. 
He died at Cornwall, Vt., September 11, 1880, of disability incurred 
in the service, at the age of fifty and a half years. He was a fine 
officer, of soldierly bearing and efiicient. In Addison county he was 
a man of marked influence. 

Addie E. Castle, daughter of Corporal Wm. H. Castle, of Castle- 
ton. Corporal Castle enlistled as private in Co. C, 11th Regiment, 
Vermont Volunteers, August 13, 1862. Was promoted June 28, 
1864. Wounded in front of Petersburgh, April 2, 1865. Mus- 
tered out June 5, 1865. 

Minnie J. Poreau, daughter of Jack Poreau of Pittsford, private 
in Company G, 12th Vermont Volunteers, Aug. 21, 1862. 

Philip R Leavenworth, youngest son of Capt. Abel E. Leaven- 
worth, 9th Vermont Volunteers. Capt. Leavenworth enlisted as 
private May 24, 1862 ; was made first sergeant July 9, 1862 ; 
promoted first lieutentant, November 17, 1802; captain, December 
4, 1864. Mustered out at Richmond, Va., June 13, 1865. 

Minnie J. Williams, daughter of George F. Williams, of Rut- 
land. Mr. Williams enlisted in the First Regiment Frontier Cavalry, 
January 4, 1865. 

Helen R. Lawrence, daughter of Serg. Rodney R. Lawrence, of 
Hubbardton, who enlisted as private in Company C, 7th Regiment 
Vermont Volunteers, Nov. 20, 1861; corporal November 1, 1862; 
re-enlisted February 15, 1864; sergeant July 1, 1864; first sergeant 
March 12, 1865. Mustered out March 14, 1866. 



11 

Service of G. A. R. 

The Memorial Service of the G. A, R., was impressively ren- 
dered by the John T. Sennott Post, of West Rutland; and the 
graves of twenty-five heroes were then decorated by detached 
squads. 

The soldiers' graves in the church yard in the village, were dec- 
orated by Mrs. A. E. Higley, Miss Carrie Cheever and Dr. James 
Sanford. 



Salute by the Normal Guards. 

The Normal Guards marched to the massive cubic monument of 
Capt, S. G. Perkins, and fired a salute over his grave. 

History of Decoration Days in Castleton, By B. W. Burt. 

This is the sixteenth annual observance of Decoration Day in 
Castleton. For three or four years the exercises were not very 
elaborate; after that an organization was instituted known as Cas- 
tleton Memorial Association. The first board of officers were : 
President, F. Parker; Vice-presidents, J. B. Bromley and L. H. 
Billings; Secretary, B. W. Burt ; Chaplain, Rev. H. C. Farrar ; 
Executive Committee, H. Ainsworth, E. J. Hyde, Gertie Sherman, 
Ella Bromley, George Parker ; Floral Committee, Lucy Noyes, 
Frances Burt and Margarett Adams ; Flag Bearer, Patrick Byrne; 
Grave Marker, James Durham. Under the direction of this associa- 
tion the ceremony was much more inspiring and imposing, until 
discontinued in 1880. The orators during its existence were, E. J. 
Ormsbee of Brandon, E. T. Hall, Pittsford, C. H Dunton, J. C. 
Baker, P. R. Kendall, of Rutland, Rev. Mr. Haynes of Whitehall, 
Rev. E. T. Hooker of Castleton; all save one were war-veterans. 
Poems were contributed and read by C. R. Ballard, R. G. Williams, 
R. T. Ross, A. T. Gorham and W. E. Howard. The Hon. P. W. 
Hyde officiated as marshal of the day usually ; and music rendered 
by Streeter's Drum Corps of Castleton, the Cambrian Band of Fair- 
haven, the Fairhaven Drum Corps, and Castleton Cornet Band. 
On one occasion a resolution was introduced and read by Rev. L. 
H. Stone, and adopted, appropriating funds for the purchase of two 



12 

head stones for the unmarked graves of two of our deceased soldiers; 
and he was appointed to carry out the intent of the resolution, 
which was done before the return of the next Decoration Day. In 
1881, an independent observance of the day was successfully con- 
ducted, with B. W. Burt, President, L. H. Stone, Chaplain, J. S. 
Dutton, Marshal. The speakers were Messrs Bromley, Stone, Wal- 
lace and others. At the conclusion of the exercises a contribution 
was taken up to the amount of ten dollars, for the benefit of the 
band that discoursed music. Speakers beside those above named 
at different times were Hon. C, M. Willard, Rev. H. C. Farrar, Rev. 
Lewis Francis, Prof. E. J. Hyde. Many days good delegations 
from neighboring towns joined us in those Memorial ceremonies. 
For three years past the services have been conducted under the 
auspices of the teachers and pupils of the Normal school, that were 
of an interesting character and reflected honor upon the institution. 

Castleton may well feel a just pride that she was one, if not the 
first town in the west part of the county to commemorate this 
national Memorial day, het apart to decorate the graves and perpet- 
uate the memory of six hundred thousand heroes that sleep their 
last, long sleep, in this and other sacred, silent cities of the dead 
throughout this once distracted, distressed, divided nation, but now 
a great and glorious Union. And may it so remain until time shall 
be no more. 

[Note by the Compiler. — Mr. B. W. Burt has been a contributor of local 
news from Castleton to the Rutland Herald and Olobe for thirty -five years con- 
secutively ;• and from his reports from year to year, I herewith append the most 
important additional facts : 

1870. Oration by Rev. H. L. Grose, pastor of the Baptist church at Hyde- 
ville ; poem by C. R. Ballard ; Col. F. Parker, marshal ; address by Rev. Mr. 
Ross of Castleton ; singing by the Congregational choir. Tlie procession was 
formed in front of the Brick church at 3 o'clock, p. m. 

1871. Addresses by Rev. Mr. Williams, principal of the Seminary, and Rev. 
L. H. Stone. " The Soldiers' Graves Decorating Association of Castleton," was 
formed; Col. F. Parker, president; Rev. R. G. Williams, E. H. Armstrong, 
Mrs. L. H. Stone, and Miss Ruth Peck were elected oflBcers for 1872. 

1872. Procession formed in front of the Brick church ; Hon. P. W. Hyde, 
marshal ; addresses in the cemetery by Rev. L. H. Stone, Rev. H. C. Farrar, 
Rev. S. G. Mathewson, Rev, R. G. Williams, and Hon. J. B. Bromley; poem by 
Rev. W. T. Ross ; music by the seminary choir ; the Drum Corps acted as 
escort ; Patrick Byrne flag bearer. The following officers were elected for the 
year 1873: Col. F. Parker, pres. ; J. B. Bromley and L. H. Billings, vice-pres. ; 



13 

B. W. Bart, sec. ; Bev. H. C Farrar, chap.; Hon. P. W. Hyde, marshal; and 
H. Ainsworth, Geo. Parker, Edward Hyde, Gertie Sherman and Ella Bromley 
committee. 

1873. It was stated that this was the fourth observance of Memorial day in 
Castleton. The procession was formed in front of the Brick church at 1 o'clock, 
p. M.; addresses by Rev. S. G. Williams and E. J. Hyde ; poem by A. T. Gor- 
ham ; music by the Hibernian band of Fairhaven ; the teachers and pupils of 
all the schools, the Eagle Fire Company, and citizens were in line. The follow- 
ing officers were elected for the ensuing year : Hon. J. B. Bromley, pres. ; Rev. 
W. T. Ross and M. H. Cook, vice-pres. ; B. W. Burt, sec. ; Rev. W. G. Daven- 
port, chap. ; P. W. Hyde, marshal. 

1874. The citizens and soldiers of Castleton and some of the surrounding 
towns, formed a procession in the Town Hall Park ; address by Rev. R. T. 
Hall of Pittsford ; poem by the Rev. R G. Williams ; and recitations by four 
young ladies of the seminary. 

1875. Met in the park of Castleton Seminary at 2 p. m. Addresses by Hon. 
W. C. Dunton and E. J. Hyde, principal of the seminary ; music by Streeter's 
Drum Corps. The officers were as follows : Pres. Hon. J, B. Bromley ; Vice- 
pres., M. H. Cook; Sec. D. D. Cole; Chaplain, Rev. W. L. Himes; Marshal, 
Hon. P. W. Hyde 

1876. Oration by Joel C. Baker of Rutland ; poem by Walter E. Howard ; 
music by Streeter's Drum Corps ; J. B. Bromley, pres. ; P. W. Hyde, marshal. 
The exercises were held in the Town Hall Park. 

1877. Addresses by Capt. E. J. Ormsbee of Brandon and Rev. E. T. Hooker, 
of Castleton, music by Streeter's Drum Corps. 

1878. Speaking in Town Hall by Rev. E. T. Hooker; music by Castleton 
Cornet Band. J. B. Bromley, pres. ; M. H. Cook, sec. ; Rev. W. W. Foster, 
chaplain ; and Pitt W. Hyde, marshal. 

1879. The exercises were held in the Town Hall Park. Address by Peleg 
Redfield Kendall, Esq., of Rutland, short speeches by Rev. E. T. Hooker and 
Rev. John E. Metcalf. Music by the Castleton Cornet Bank. 

1880. Address by Rev. Mr. Haynes, of Whitehall, N. Y. Music by the Fair- 
haven Drum Corps. T. P. Smith, marshal. Prayer by Rev. Mr. Wallace of 
the Advent church. 

1881. The procession was formed on the village green in front of the Con- 
gregational church, at 9 o'clock a. m. Addresses were made in the cemetery 
by the Rev. John E. Metcalf, Hon. J. B. Bromley, and Rev. L. H. Stone. The 
well known color-bearer and veteran, Patrick Byrne, bore the flag. J. S. 
Dutton, marshal ; B. W. Burt was president ; and music by Castleton Cornet 
Band. 

1883. Decoration under the auspices of the State Normal School, with Prof. 
Leavenworth as president of the day, and marshal of the procession which 
formed in the Normal School Park. The pupils of the school, and citizens 
made up the line. 



14 

18S3. The procession was formed in the Normal School Park under Capt. A. 
E. Leavenworth, assisted by Mr. F. L. Johnson of the village school, at 10 a. m. , 
prayer by Rev. Ulric Maynard. Music by the Normal School choir. Exer- 
cises by the Primary Department of the Normal School ; " Cover them over 
with flowers." The citizens joined the line. 

1884. The procession was formed in the Normal School Park at 10 A. m., 
under the auspices of the State Normal School. The citizens joined the line ; 
all were under the marshalship of Capt. A. E. Leavenworth. 

Since writing the above, Mr. James Brennan informs me that Decoration Day 
Exercises were quite extensive and very largely attended on Sunday May 30, 
1869, and brought forward his diary from which I copy one item of that date : 
" Quite a large number of people out this afternoon to decorate the graves of 
soldiers. " He said that there- were fully one thousand people attending the 
services. 

Castleton was one of the first towns " to strew flowers on the graves of sol- 
diers." This is due to the patriotism of Col. F. Parker ; he gathered a large 
quantity of purple and white lilacs, and tried to get others of his neighbors to 
go with him to help distribute the tokens of respect to deceased soldiers, but no 
one could he find who would go with him. But he went alone and distributed 
his flowers to every patriot's grave, with his own heart beating fervently in 
gratitude to those who died for his and their country. Thus Castleton received 
the credit of being one of the first, if not the first to decorate the soldiers' graves 
in Vermont. It was very early in the morning of the first Decoration day.*] 

Resolutions on Gen. Grant — His Reply. 

B. W. Burt, Esq., introduced the following series of resolutions, 
which were unanimously adopted by the citizens and veterans pre- 
sent : 

"In view of the protracted and painful illness of Gen. U. S. Grant, 
the Nation's Great Defender when in peril : 

Resolved, That we extend to him and his family our deepest 
sympathies at this time of their intense affliction, hoping and 
praying that his life may be spared to them and the Nation for 
many years to come. 

Hesolved, That this expression of sincere regard in behalf of 
our illustrious war-veteran and ex-Chief Magistrate of the Nation 
be published with the Proceedings of this Memorial Day; and that 
a copy of these resolutions be forwarded, by the secretary, to Gen. 
Grant. 

These resolutions were followed by appropriate remarks by Rev. 
Levi H. Stone. . 

^i 

* The first Decoration Day was in 1868. < ■>• 



15 

Castlbton, Vermont, June 8, 1885. 
Gen. U. S. Grant, 

Sir : I herewith enclose a series of resolutions which were pre- 
sented by B. W. Burt, Esq., and unanimously adopted by the citi- 
zens and veterans of the town of Castleton, Vermont, during the 
Decoration Ceremonies on Memorial Day 1885. 

Very Respectfully, 

John M. Currier, 
Secretary of the Memorial Organization. 

New York, Jime 9th, 1885. 
John M. Currier, 

Dear Sir : Gen. Grant directs me to acknowledge the receipt of 
your communication of the 8th inst., and thanks the citizens and 
veterans of Castleton, for the resolutions passed by them on 
Memorial Day. It gives General Grant great pleasure to feel that 
the citizens and old soldiers thought of him. 

Respectfully, 

F. D. Grant. 



Biographical Sketch* op Capt. Selah Gridley Perkins, M. D., 
BY Juliet E. Perkins, M. D. 

Captain Selah Gridley Perkins was born in Castleton, Vt,, on 
November 12, 1829. His father was Dr. Joseph Perkins, and his 
mother Mary Gridley, daughter of Dr. Selah Gridley and Beulah 
Langdon. As a child he was remarkable for his fine mental capacity 
and for his strong memory. When only eight years old he was 
well advanced in his Latin studies. His education was begun at 
the old seminaiy in Castleton and he entered Middlebury College 
when he was fourteen years old. He left there in the same year 
and entered Union College in 1844. He was graduated in 1847 with 
the highest honors and received the Phi Beta Kappa key for scholar- 
ship. He came to the Castleton Seminary as instructor in mathe- 
matics, Latin and Greek under E. J. Hallock. For two years he 
filled this place with great success, preparing a large class of 
young men for college before he was twenty-one years old himself. 

While teaching, he became a thorough anatomist and chemist. 
He was demonstrator of Anatomy under Dr. C. L. Ford in Cas- 



*Read by Mr. A. E. Highley. ' 



k 



16 

tleton Medical College for two years, although he had not taken a 
medical diploma. His object was to prepare himself for the place 
of professor of Chemistry, for which he was eminently qualified by 
both his taste and acquirements. About this time he passed the 
necessary examinations and received the degree of doctor of medi- 
cine from the college. He had not intended to practice medicine, 
but owing to his father's earnest request, he changed his mind. As 
he felt that he could not be trammeled by any particular school of 
medicine, he went to Waterford, N. Y., at first, to practice and in- 
vestigate the different branches of his profession. He staid there 
for two years and built up a remarkably large and lucrative prac- 
tice. 

Becoming weary of this work for which he always had an aversion, 
Dr. Perkins went to New York to take charge of a weekly scientific 
journal. But he found that his ideas of the standard which the 
paper should have, did not and could not agree with those of some of 
his associates and he left the journal in six months, going to Boston 
to engage in active business. His father constantly urged him to 
come to Castleton to assist him in his medical practice, and finally 
he left Boston and returned to Castleton. For a year he assisted 
his father, but desiring more freedom, he started out for himself 
with remarkable success. His practice was in the best sense eclectic, 
as Dr. Perkins had thoroughly studied all the different medical 
systems. He feared to use nothing that would cure disease or re- 
lieve suffermg. In his own words, he sought only to be a " true 
physician." He refused professorships in two colleges, one in Phila- 
delphia and another in Brooklyn, N. Y., because he could not be 
bound to any particular school of medicine, With his address to 
the Class of 1855 of the Castleton Medical College, he formally re- 
nounced all connection with any one system. 

In 1861, when the war of the Rebellion broke out, Dr. Perkins 
felt at once that his place was in the army of the union, for his 
whole life had been a protest against slavery of every kind. Con- 
sequently, in September, of that year he enlisted as a private in the 
1st Vermont cavalry. He was elected captain of company H., when 
the regiment was first organized. His company was raised almost 
entirely through his own efforts. In December, he left Burlington 
for the seat of war. His record as an ofiicer was one of dauntless 
courage and stainless honor. He was of the greatest service through 
his rapidly acquired knowledge of the topography of the country 



17 

and through his success in furnishing supplies to the army in and 
about the Shenandoah valley in Virginia, After the defeat of 
Banks, Captain Perkins was stationed at Hagarstown, Md, He 
could have staid there in what to him was ignoble ease, guard- 
ing the borders from rebel raids, but he would not do it. He went 
to Washington and secured by personal solicitation from Mr. 
Stanton, secretary of war, an order for active service. 

In the early part of August, 1862, he passed through the battles 
before and after Pope's defeat, with many narrow escapes from 
death. On September 21, while the cavalry were lying at Alexan- 
dria, Va., two companies of the 1st Vermont cavalry were ordered to 
guard the passes of the mountains. Colonel Preston went with com- 
panies H. and G. The rebel cavalry were met on the following day 
at Ashley's Gap, and were driven back. But Colonel Preston and 
Lieutenant Adams, were severely wounded and Captain Perkins was 
instantly killed. So died one of the truest of men, and rarest of 
scholars and one of the bravest soldiers that the Green Mountain 
State gave to the great struggle for National union and freedom. 
His body lies in the cemetery on the bluff above the river at Cas- 
tleton. 



Biographical Sketch of Lieut. French, by his sister, Ella A. 

French. 

George Oscar French was born in Castleton, April 25th, 1844. 
He was the second in a family of six, and the first one taken from 
that family by death. His boyhood passed, like that of many 
another country lad, almost unnoticed save by his parents, and lit- 
tle history can now be given of his earlier years. 

He was of fair complexion, having blue eyes, and light curling 
hair. He developed a strong, active figure, and at eighteen was six 
feet, one and one-fourth inches in height. It is remembered of him 
that he was always singularly brave. As a child, he cowered before 
no bugbear and was afraid of no stranger. He took the world in a 
simple, straightforward way, as free from boastfulness as it was 
from fear. He was fond of out door sports and innocent frolics, and 
few people have a keener sense of the ludicrous than he had. What- 
ever the discouragements or drawbacks he seemed to be able to see 
the comical side of a case, and a hearty laugh, directed, as often as 
2 



18 

not, toward himself, restored his own courage and that of others. 
A frank, truthful, merry hearted boy, such was our brother always. 
He was a bright scholar, and after leaving the country schools, 
attended the seminary at Castleton. He was not a graduate, but 
he studied the higher English branches and Mathematics, in which 
he was proficient. Outside of school, he learned to play the violin. 

There is so little to tell in all this that I am inclined to ask par- 
don for putting it before you, " A born soldier," some one said of 
liim after he wore epaulets, and if unselfishness and steadfastness 
are the badge of heroes, he may have been, but in his youth no one, 
least of all iiimself, thought of any career before him but that of 
honorable manhood. 

That part of liis life which has any interest for other than his 
own people began with his enlistment in the Union army, Aug. 6th, 
1862. He was not quite eighteen when Fort Sumter was captured, 
and through all that year he read eagerly of the war and chafed at 
his own youth and uselessness. When he had passed his eighteenth 
birthday, he was anxious to join the army, and all saw that it would 
be impossible long to keep hini with us. He was enrolled at Fair 
Haven, in Company C, of the 11th Regiment, Vermont Volunteers. 
A few days afterward he went to Brattleboro where the regiment 
was mustered in, and where it remained till September 7th. Before 
leaving Brattleboro he had been appointed sergeant, and he entered 
on his soldier's duties with the same enthusiasm and thoroughness 
which he had given to everything else. 

His letters through this time are very pleasant reading. The 
weariness from long marches and lack of food, the shadow of 
danger and death, had not yet fallen upon him, and he tells us of the 
journey to Washington where the brigade was to be drilled ready 
for the defence of that city or for the field ; he names the line of 
forts, among which were Massachusetts, Stevens and Bunker Hill ; 
he describes the barracks, the rifle-pits, the artillery-drill, and sends 
us a drawing of the great Parrot gun which his division used, and 
of which he became as proud as a sailor of his ship or a rider of his 
pony. He bought books on Artillery Tactics and made himself 
master of the movements. He was complimented for the precision 
and judgment, with which, as sergeant, he directed the firing, and 
tells of the compliment and the deed in an off-hand way as if they 
belonged to some one else. There were some hard lines. The 
change of water and food, the heat, and severe military duty 



19 

brought on a fever which confined hiiu to the hospital for several 
weeks that fall. In the winter, too, he had an attack of pneumonia, 
and was obliged to give up work for a short time. 

For more than a year the regiment was before Washington, daily 
expecting marching orders and receiving only rumors of them. In 
January, 1864, our brother obtained a short furlough, and on re- 
turning to the army was promoted to the position of 1st, or Orderl)'^ 
Sergeant. In May, 1804, when Grant had been made commander- 
in-chief and there was a definite plan of operations, the impatience 
of the troops around Washington was gratified, and the marching 
orders really came. On the thirteenth of May the camp was 
broken up and the troops taken by steamers to the lower Potomac 
where they landed and marched to join Grant's army near the 
Rappahannock. Their first real fighting was on the sixteenth of 
May in one of the series of battles near Spottsylvania. After the 
engagement, brother wrote home with pride that the regiment was 
complimented for gallant conduct. Not a man flinched. During 
the flank movements by which the Confederate army was out- 
generaled, a fierce attack was made upon the Union line where these 
men stood, and those whom they took prisoners said they ktiew 
Vermont soldiers fought, but the Second Brigade fought as they 
never saw men fight before. Brother exulted, also, that Gen. Sedg- 
wick had asked for their division in the campaign, remarking that 
Vermont troops were at a premium. On the first of June, the 
troops marched fifteen miles in the morning, went on the field and 
fought all day, and dug intrenchments at night until the men could 
not stand for faintness. They were in the battle of Cold Harbor 
where the regiment lost heavily. May 13th, the sui'geon reported 
seventeen hundred thirty-thi'ee men fit for duty, June 10th, there 
were but thirteen hundred twenty-five. June 1 8th, they are in 
camp near Petersburgh and the outer defences of that city are theirs. 
In all this time they had been serving as infantry, but Washington 
being threatened, they are hurried off to aid the hundred days' men 
in its defence, and in four days they are at Poolesville, Md., 
having marched sixty miles, ridden three hundred and eighty by 
steam and been twenty-four hours on the skirmish line. The people 
at Washington were glad to see them, and shouted, " Hurrah for the 
6th Corps and the 11th Vermont." 

On the 28th of June, brother was commissioned 2d Lieutenant. 

In the early part of July, the 0th Corps was back at Peters- 
burgh, but was almost immediately recalled to drive the Confederates 



20 

from the Shenandoah valley. By forced marches, fording rivers, 
and fighting, the men were so worn out that some fell by the way 
and were made prisoners, while others sickened and died from sheer 
exhaustion. Brother was sick also, and through the month of 
August was kept in the hospital at Annapolis. He rejoined his 
regiment Se^^tember 1st, and shared in the battles of the Shenan- 
doah that autumn, when Sheridan drove Early south and almost 
laid waste the valley. Sheridan, he believed in thoroughly and 
the dash and firmness of that officer were a great delight to him 
after the slow hesitating character of the early part of the war. 
Brother was wounded in the battle of Cedar Creek, Oct. 19th, by 
a piece of shell. It was a wound on the left side of the head, cut- 
ting to the bone but not dangerous. The captain ordered two men 
to take him to the rear, but he sent them back to their places and 
went on alone. He did not leave the regiment while the. wound 
was healing. 

While in the Shenandoah he was made acting adjutant of the 
Battalion and performed the duties of that office for several months. 
In December, the corps was ordered to Petersburgh again, and went 
into quarters three miles west of the Weldon railroad. Here they 
remained throughout the winter, helping in the long siege which 
tired out Lee's army and made its surrender in the spring of 1865 a 
necessity. Here they sometimes met the rebel pickets, and brother 
writes of an encounter with one of their lieutenants. He came up 
for a parley, asking if some of the Union men might not come and 
exchange coffee for tobacco which his men had. Brother replied 
that he dared not let them do so for the rebels were so treacherous. 
Some of our men had been taken by them while bartering a day or 
two before. Some of thera were treacherous, he owned, but not 
/m men. They were Early's. "Aha!" said brother, "Early's 
men; we saw those fellows in the valley last summer." " Ye-es " 
di-awled the confederate and retired. 

Throughout this time the letters never failed. Filled with 
accounts of battle and march, enlivened by comical incidents and 
scraps from the books he had read — bits from Byron, Shakespeare, 
Dickens — full of courage and hopefulness and affectionate remem- 
brance of eveiything and everybody at home, but not one unmanly 
word. We were " to take care of mother; " " father "was not to work 
if unable to do so;" he would help. Above all, we were not to 
worry about him. He was well, he was " browner and stronger 



21 

tban an Indian." Indeed, from the tone of the letters, one would 
think we were in the place of hardship and danger and he was safe 
at home. 

The last letter is dated April 1st, 1865. On the morning of April 
2d, the grand forward movement of the armies around Richmond 
began, and on the 3d, Grant's army entered the rebel capital. But 
this our brother did not live to see. 

Last summer, two of his sisters met a farm-laborer more than 
twenty miles away, and hearing our name, the man came and inquired 
if we were relatives of Lieut. French. When he found we were, he 
told us this story of the last day of our brother's life. He was in com- 
mand of this stranger's company for a few days, and on the morning 
of April 2d, when at four o'clock, the men were ordered out, some of 
them broke ranks and turned to run away. They had done so once 
before he was put in command of them, and he now called a halt 
and talked to them of the shame of cowardice. Every appeal which, 
in the hurry of the moment he could think to make to them, he 
did, reminding them that they would want their own people and 
the people of Vermont to be proud of them and not disgraced by 
them, and he ended with " I will ask you to go nowhere that I do 
not go first, and if I die, go on over my dead body, but go on.'''' 
Every one returned to the ranks and there was no more faltering. 
When the company came back at night they said it was the first time 
they had ever been officered by a man. 

They came back — but our brother was not with them. His words 
had been prophetic, for half an hour after they were spoken, he fell, 
killed instantly by a ball which struck him in the forehead. 

A sad death, you say, for one so young ? Yes, and no. For he 
who told us this, a plain working man like our brother, had carried 
through these twenty years the memory of those fearless words 
sealed by that early death, and so felt kinship in that work and 
courage that he spoke of them with kindling eye and choking voice. 
Are we wrong in hoping that they may have lived, too, in other 
hearts, making somewhat braver soldiers on battle-fields where other 
weapons than artillery are needed? And doing so, surely our 
brother's death has borne tenfold more fruit than would a long life, 
ignobly or indifferently lived. 

His body was embalmed, but in the delays of that troublous 
time it was more than a month before it reached us, and had been 
buried and disinterred at City Point meantime. 



22 

Some of his belongings came hack, but l)is sword and pistol had 
been taken before liis body was found upon the field. His clothing, 
his writing-desk, and a few other articles, we received. Best of all, 
there came a small, worn volume, the story of that life under whose 
captaincy His soldiers could say, " I have fought a good light." 

I beg your indulgence if I have given too much praise to this 
one member of the army. He himself would be the last one to 
forgive me for having done so, for his modesty quite equalled his 
courage. Through all his career as a soldier he never boasted. 
We were not to mention his promotion unless it were necessary. 
When he sent home his commission, we were not to show it ; it 
might be useful sometime in proving identity or in other ways, but 
he didn't wish it talked about. 

I thank you for your kind attention to his story, and I assure you 
it is the family feeling that a patent of nobility or a million of 
money would make us less ])roud and less rich than we are in the 
memory of our soldier. 



The Veterans dine at the Bomoseen House. 

At this stage of the exercises, Capt. Leavenworth turned the 
balance of the program over to Vice-president J. B. Bromley, and 
conducted the John T. Sennott Post, G. A. R., under the escort of 
the Normal Guards and the Castleton Cornet Band, to the Bomo- 
seen House, where a sumptuous dinner was served by the proprietor 
Mr. H. B. Ellis, as the hospitalities of the citizens of Castleton. 

(Japt. Leavenworth, having engaged to participate in the Memorial 
exercises at Fair Haven in the afternoon, took no further part in the 
exercises here. 



Letter * from James Hope, Captain of Co. B, 2d Regt. 

Vt. Vols. 

Watkins, N. Y., May 27, 1885. 
Dr. John M. Currier, 

Dear Sir : I am sorry that I have no time left to gather up a few 
recollections of Co. B, 2d Vt., that would be of interest for this 



Kead by D. D. Cole, Esq. 



28 

occasion, for in my estimation no better company ever sliouldereil 
their muskets in the hite Rebellion. Passing over its organization 
and mustering into the U. S. service, I will merely say that I reported 
the company in full to Gen. H. H. Baxter, two or three days before 
any other company was reported. But owing to a promise he had 
made to the Bennington company we were not mustered in as Co. 
A, which we should have been. 

I will now pass over all previous events, and state a few facts in 
relation to the "Boys" in their first battle, Bull Run. On that 
memoral)le July morning we found ourselves in camp a mile or so 
north-east of Centreville, and before dayligiit, were ordered to " fall 
in." We were in "light marching order." After the usual delays, 
and dragging on, we passed through Centreville, over " Cub Run 
Bridge," ascending the long hill beyond to a blacksmith's shop, with 
woods on each side of the road, we were there halted to wait further 
orders. Our regiment at that time was in Gen. O. O. Howard's 
Brigade with the Maine Boys. I do not recollect ever looking at 
my watch during that whole day ; so I can give no time, but it was 
well along in the morning when we came to a halt there, and we 
remained there, I should think, at least two hours or more. 

The battle was raging, and we could hear the firing, and see the 
puffs of white smoke of the bursting shells, and the red haze hover- 
ing over the distant fields. Then came an order to " fall in," 
" double quick." But instead of marching straight to the fight, we 
filed into the woods to the right behind the blacksmith's shop, and 
at a right angle to the direct road, and started off on a double-quick, 
on that fearfully hot July day, making a long detour, said to be 
ten miles, but evidently much short of that, we crossed Bull Run, 
at Sudley church. Everything that could be dispensed with had 
been thrown away, and the " Boys " stripped to it. Many of them 
had fallen by the way, overcome by heat and fatigue, so I do not 
tliink more than two-thirds or three-fourths reached the battle. 
Most of their canteens were empty, and the suffering was great. 
We crossed the Run, passed Sudley church and a small piece of 
woods, where our field hospital was established, then crossed a long- 
ridge, where we were shelled by the enemy. There were a few 
casualties here in the regiment but none in Co. B. We then bore 
to the left, ascending a wooded hill, the backside of which was a bare 
pasture ; here we found ourselves face to face with the "Johnnies," 



24 

so were halted and comraenoed firing; were each on a side hill, with 
a dry ditch between us, but the rebels were in the woods, and we in 
a bare pasture, so we seldom could see one of them. At one time 
the enemy raised a U. S. flag in an opening among the trees, and 
we stopped firing, thinking we were fighting our own men ; that 
gave them an opportunity to pour into us a more deadly fire, which 
we also returned. After a time, I could not say how long, the 
colonel gave tlie order to the regiment to fall back, which, not more 
than half of the regiment heard ; we, on the left did not hear it, 
and as I saw some of the companies still facing the enemy, and 
some partly facing to the rear, I thought the regiment was about 
breaking, and after trying to help rally them, I came back to Co. 
B, and deployed them as skirmishers down the hill, covering the 
left front of the regiment and being only half the distance from the 
enemy, than the rest of the regiment were. Soon after the regiment 
fell back, and after a while a Maine regiment, I do not know what 
number, came over the hill and halted twenty-five or thirty rods 
behind us, fired two rounds and then retired. No other troops came 
up after that ; we kept up the fire without change of position, for 
about half an hour longer, and then the rebels brought a battery 
out from behind the woods to the open ground in our left front ; I 
then gave the order to " fall back," marching back common time, 
up over the hill, loading and firing. This the boys did with no more 
excitement than if they had been on drill, and not a step quicker 
than common time, myself and Lieut. John Howe walking behind 
them, and the rebels peppering away at them all the time. I felt 
proud of Castleton company that day ; they were neither demoral- 
ized nor excited, every man was a hero ; the cowards had left at 
the first fire or never got in at all. Co. B, 2d Vt., kept up the fight 
at least half an hour alone after all other firing had ceased on our 
side, on our right ; and I am quite sure, on the whole field. A 
number of the boys were wounded and three fell into the hands of 
the enemy, but none were killed. It was Kirby Smith's brigade we 
fought, but they did not venture out of the woods till we were out 
of sight. With a sigh for the dead and warmest wishes for the 
living. 

James Hope, 

Capt. Co. B, 2d Vt. 



25 



Reminiscences of the War of toh: Rebellion, by D. G. Burt, 
Private in Co. F. 1st Reqt. U. S. Artillery. 

Mr. President, Comrades, Ladies and Gentlemen : 

Sitting on the deck of the steamship " City of San Francisco," at 
anchor in Panama Bay ten years ago, in company with a gentle- 
man who had filled a high position in the confederate service 
during the late war, and a captain in the United States Navy, we 
spent several hours recalling scenes and incidents which had come 
under our observation during the four years conflict in which we 
had all been engaged. When separating for the night the captain 
turning to me reraai'ked : " it is always pleasant to me, to revive 
these old recollections," So standing here in this beautiful Hillside 
Cemetery after decorating with fairest flowers the graves of our 
comrades who shared with us the privations, hardships and glories 
of those days " that tried men's souls," it seems to me nothing can 
be more appropriate than narrating, for the instruction of those 
younger than us, who participated in that four years' struggle, some 
of the recollections that crowd before us like a panorama as it were, 
only painted on our minds and hearts in colors far more bright and 
enduring than any artist has ever yet been able to put on the can- 
vass. 

During a service that extended through a period of four years, I 
cannot now recall one incident which I would willingly forget. 
To me they are like " thrice told tales," or the melodies of " Mother 
Goose," of which we never tire, and which the more we hear, the 
better we like them. While they may not be interesting to many 
of you, they recall vividly to mind the old camp on the hill at Brat- 
tleboro, the trip to New York by rail, and the steamer " Elm City," 
the long and tedious voyage to Ship Island, on the good ship " Wal- 
lace," the sand flies, fleas, etc., which infested that place, the whirl- 
wind and storm that occurred while we were encamped there, when 
we expected every moment to be washed away, and last, but not the 
least, of our experiences there, the review before old " Ben Butler," 
as he was called, when in heavy marching order we marched up and 
down in the sand, when it seemed to me that every step I took 
would be my last. Our camp at Carrolton and in New Orleans, 



26 

the first attack on Port ITudBon, followed by tlie Teche campaign 
ending witli the siege and fall of Port Hudson, and many others 
which might be enumerated did not time forbid. 

The first incident which I call to mind was the feeling of utter 
desolation and home sickness that came over me about 1 1 p. m., on 
the 9th day of December, 1861, when after enlisting for a period of 
three years " unless sooner shot," my companion who had accom- 
panied me from Castleton, was told by the recruiting officer, just as 
he took up the pen to write his name, that he could not be taken. 
A teleirram from his father forbade his enlistment. I realized in a 
moment that I was in and he was out. I would have given worlds 
had I then possessed them, to have been in the same fix, but it was no 
use, entreaties to take him were of no avail, be taken he could not. 
He left me the next day, a stranger in a strange land and among 
strangers, but I contented myself as well as I could, and made the 
best of it. My friend, companion and school-mate, Geo. K. Gris- 
wold, afterwards laid down his life on one of the battle fields of 
Virginia. His grave is unknown, but he sleeps as i)eacefully there 
as though he was laid among liis own kindred here, and numbers 
one of that countless host 



And 



" Who on fame's eternal camping ground 
Their silent tents have spread." 

" Where solemn glory sliines around 
The bivouac of the dead." 



I was a tired, hot, thirsty and used up boy when in June, 1862, 
after a walk of three miles through tbe streets of New Orleans, I 
boarded the gunboat " Sciota " then lying at the foot of Jefferson 
street, and inquired if midshipman Woodward, was aboard. I had 
hardly asked the question when I heard some one sing out from 
below, " come down here." I knew the voice and descending the 
stairs found myself with my old friend ; but so pale and emaciated 
I should hardly have known him had I met him on the street. To 
each one of us it was next to going home. Neither had seen any 
one from our old home in months, and long and steady was the talk 
that we indulged in. It was like an oasis in the desert, and was the 
bright spot in those months spent at Camp Pai'apet, the tedious- 
ness of which was broken only by an occasional review, turning out 



27 

at night in answer to the long roll which was frequently sounded, 
and every one of which proved to be a false alarm. 

* * * * * 

It was a bright moonlight Sunday night in April, 1863, when the 
19th army corps, 30,000 strong, left Baton Rouge on the first ad- 
vance to Port Hudson. The memory of that night will never fade. 
As we filed past the old burying ground we could but think of that 
Sabbath morning in the August before, when Breckenridge, with 
his forces " came down like the wolf on the fold," and the stubborn 
fight which ensued after our boys had recovered from their surprise 
resulting in the defeat of the attackers, but not until after the Union 
commander Williams had lost his life. Our march was enlivened 
by the music of many bands. Such familiar tunes as " John Brown's 
body," " Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, " etc., being accompanied by the 
voices of thousands of stalwart men, until the pine woods through 
which we were marching seemed to be alive with melody. 

The next Tuesday evening the 3d Brigade, 3d Division, consisting 
of the 8th New Hampshire, 4th VVisconsin, 133d, and 162d New York 
Infantry and Battery F 1st U. S. Artillery under command of Col. 
H. E. Paine, 4th Wisconsin, were ordered to take the advance, and 
about dusk formed line of battle about three miles from Port Hud- 
son, in anticipation of an attack from the enemy. About ten o'clock 
the fleet under the command of Rear Admiral Farragut began a 
bombardment of the place; we were not near enough to see the ships 
or the fire from the batteries, but could see the shells as they rose 
from the guns of the fleet, the burning fuse giving them the 
ap])earance of a star as they rose and fell. As they appeared in the 
sky and as the river front was illuminated by the flash of the guns 
both from the shore batteries and the ships, the scene was one never 
to be forgotten. About an hour after the bombardment began, we 
could see that one of the ships was on fire. For an hour the fire 
seemed to be stationary, and as the flames rose higher and higher, 
as they crept up the masts and through the rigging, no words can 
express the sublimity of the appearance of the ill fated boat. 
Finally she began to float down the stream and we watched and 
watched as it receded from our view until with one loud explosion 
that shook even the ground where we were laying, everything grew 
black and dark, and the shattered hulk of the frigate " Mississippi" 
sank to the bottom of the river after which she was named. The 
next morning we were informed that Farragut with the " Hartford " 



28 

and " Albatross " had passed the batteries, the object of the expe- 
dition had been accomplished, and we were ordered back to Baton 
Rouge. 

It was at the battle of Bisland, La., that I first saw the horrors 
of war, when my chosen friend Frank Lawrence, standing close to 
me was struck in the head by a solid shot, and died without a 
groan. Here it was that a piece of railroad iron fired from an old 
fashioned 32 pounder struck a young man named Miles in the side, 
instantly killing him, together with four of the grey horses attached 
to the caisson of which he was one of the drivers, overturning the 
caisson and scattering blankets, knapsacks, etc., all over the field. 

I wish that I could tell of the trip through the Teche country, 
one of the most fertile and best cultivated sections of Louisiana, the 
time when we lived, as it v^^ere, on the fat of the land. Our assault 
on Port Hudson the 27th of May, 1863, and that memorable day to 
us June 14th, when from early morning until after dark we vainly 
tried to foi'ce an entrance into that stronghold, the visits back and 
forth during the intervening days under flags of truce, when we 
would exchange coffee, papers, and tobacco, for cornmeal; and 
other things of interest that occui-red up to that 8th day of July, 
when the place surrendered. 

One only must sufiice for my time is short. The rebels had 
mounted on the bank of the river a ten inch columbiad, which as it 
was on a pivot could be turned to any direction. They probably 
thought that the Yanks wanted some thing to amuse them, so they 
brought the " Lady Davis" (as that was what the gun was christened) 
into play, every night just after sun down they would begin by firing 
towards us a shell. The gun was located some three miles from 
where we were, and after the first night or two, we began to expect 
our regular visitor. As soon as it was safe for one to put his head 
above the cotton bale breast works we would watch for it. Soon 
the flash of the gun would be seen, followed by the shell which we 
could tell by the fuse as it approached us. As it came nearer and 
nearer we would make ready and at the proper time drop. The explo- 
sion of the shell would be followed by a whizzing sound very much as 
though it were saying to each of us, where are you ? where are 
you ? Chug ! as the pieces would be buried in the ground. 

The ti-ee under which my shelter tent was pitched was struck by 
a shot one night and if ever I moved rapidly it was when I got out- 



29 

side of that tent. Remembering the old adage that lightning 
never strikes in the same place twice, I concluded not to move ray- 
house, furniture, etc., but kept it there as my base of operations 
during the rest of the siege. 

My friends, twenty years have passed since that memorable April 
morning when Lee laid down his arms to our great Commander 
Grant, and nearly as many have gone by since the custom of dec- 
orating the graves of our comrades was begun by the " Grand 
Army of the Republic." 

"The boys in blue are turning gray. Each year their ranks grow 
tliinner," and many who met with us on that first decoration day 
have passed to the other shore. To some of us who have met here 
to-day this may be the last time that we shall participate in exer- 
cises of the kind. As we leave this place for our homes let us re- 
flect upon the grand results that have followed the labors and 
hardships of our comrades. We are once more a united and un- 
broken people knowing no North, no South, no East, no West. 
Peace is a constant dweller among us, and no sounds of strife or 
contention are heard in our land. The blue and the gray mingle 
together in one great company, each vying with the other in their 
love to our country and its institutions, and to-day they march 
hand in hand on the same errand of love in which we are now en- 
gaged. Let us then teach our children never to forget that the 
blessings which we now enjoy were procured after years of struggle 
at the cost of many lives and the spilling of much blood. Let us tell 
them oft, " of battles fought, of victories won," and never to forget 
the great men under whom we served and who led us on to victory. 
Teach them to emulate their example, to love and cherish the old 
flag, and above all teach them that ours is a goodly country, and 
our nation is, and always will be inseparable, for we know 
" What Master laid its keel 

What workman wrought its ribs of steel. 
Who made each mast and sail and rope, 
What anvils ran^, what hammers beat 
In what a forge and what a heat, 
Were shaped the ancliors of its hope." 



30 



Reminiscences of 1812, by Hyde Westovek, Esq. 

[We are indebted to Mrs. L. J. P. Wilkins for writing out the incidents re- 
lated by Mr. Westover. They were read by Col. Ferrand Parker.— Compiler.] 

Hyde Westover enlisted in the company of " Light Horsemen " 
under Capt. Asa Scofield for 60 days, starting from Orwell for 
Burlington. The main army had gone on ahead, it being called 
the " Northern Army ; " while the " North-western Array " were 
ordered to form a junction at the French mills, and to make a strike 
upon Canada. The northern army was commanded by Gen. Wade 
Hampton of South Carolina. General Wilkinson from Mass., was 
commanding the north-western army. He gave orders for Hampton 
to meet him at the French mills. 

Hampton's reply to Wilkinson was : " /am the senior officer Sir, 
'tis for me to give the order." That broke up the campaign. 
Gen. Wilkinson went back to Lake Ontario with his army, while 
Gen. PLampton returned to Burlington, showing what mischief 
jealousy will do. 

Governor Chittenden of Vermont was opposed to the war, con- 
sequently he sent Brig. Gen. Davis to call home all the Vermont 
volunteers. Gen. Clark when he learned what Gen. Davis had been 
doing, he wanted four or five of Capt. Scofield's boys (as he called 
them) to take a ride with him, for the purpose of pursuing the 
general who was on his way home at that time ; reaching Cumber- 
land Head in the evening where Gen. Clark overtook him with his 
boys; addressing Maj. Olds, who was landlord of the hotel, in these 
words : Where is that damned scoundrel that carries news to the 
British? His answer was : Gen. Davis is in the other room. Gen. 
Clark entered the room; his remark was: my orders are for you to 
return to Plattsburgh with me. His reply was : I have no convey- 
ance. You can go on foot^ Sir, said Gen. Clark; but on reflection, 
he said: Davis, if any of these boys will take you on behind them, 
you can ride to Plattsburgh. One of them did so; after riding in 
that way a short distance, he says : you did not know, you were 
carrying a brigadier general behind you. The reply was: Brigadier 
general or brigadier devil, I'll carry you where Old Rifle tells me. 

Starting from Chainplain early in the morning for Plattsburgh, 
twenty-one miles distant, having reached that point before daylight 



31 

was gone, we ferried ourselves, with our horses across from Cumber- 
land Head to Grand Isle. After crossing the island, we had to 
cross what was called a sand bar, no road in sight, from there to 
Georgia, the first stopping place, after leaving Champlain, where 
we partook of some refreshments and fed our horses. It was dark 
but we followed our officers to the stream, we were obliged to cross ; 
a rope being stretched across, fastened at both ends, we placed our 
horses in a boat, and pulling upon this rope, moved the boat along 
so that we reached the other side with the entire number of thirty 
or forty horses; only three or four could be taken over at one time; 
this accomplished we rode until nearly daylight, raining hard much 
of the time. We found a large barn with two doors, both open, 
into which we rode. It was well filled with liay, with which we 
fed our tired and hungry horses. 

At this point we were in sight of the village called Slab city, 
where we were to stop. Gen. Clark advising Capt. Scofield to 
stretch out liis men that the number mi.2;-ht seem greater than it 
really was, he exclaimed: "Damn um, make them think thei'e are 
10,000 of us." Not until we reached this point did we know what 
we were after. Close to the village in a large meadow was a drove 
of forty-five or fifty cattle. The officers set the men to drive them 
into the village, stationing men in each corner to prevent the cattle 
from getting away. Cries caiue from the women for their milch 
cows, for their children's sake. Gen. Clark then said: " if you have 
such cows in here, take them out, they are 7iot what we are after, it 
is the cattle that were driven in here by the damned Tories that we 
want." Two men came up and claimed seven head of oxen which 
they said, never were in the States. The officei's lot them take them 
out. The next day while driving the remainder of them along, an 
old gentleman, a farmer came down to the road, said: " I don't see 
my old oxen in here." We asked him about them and his reply 
was, that they were all driven from that neighborhood, seven head 
in all. Then we found we had been deceived. At first thought the 
officers were inclined to go back for them, but gave it up after con- 
sidering it a little. Capt. Potter had pledged himself to deliver 
twenty-one head of cattle when called for, but notwithstanding his 
large locks on the doors, to his surprise, in the morning the cattle 
were all gone, but were found by some of the company in a swamp ; 
20 alive while one had been dressed, the quarters hung upon the 
branches of a tree, and the hide and tallow rolled up and lay at the 



32 

foot of the tree. The latter were again placed in Capt, Potter's 
yard, watched by the company that night. The beef was brought 
out in quarters on the backs of horses, by some of the company. This 
occurred in the northern part of the state, but the cattle were 
driven to Burlington and sold. 



Personal Recollections of the "Boys in Blue," 1861-5, by 
James Brennan. 

Perhaps it may seem somewhat out of the beaten path fur one 
who was only a high private in the home guards, during the event- 
ful four years of trial througli which our loved country emerged 
twenty years ago, for one more used to implements of toil than 
handling the pen of the biographer, or the historian, to attempt 
narrating any of the deeds or incidents pertaining to the glorious 
struggle, but although prevented by fortune, good or ill, as the case 
may be viewed, from actively participating in the cause of the 
Union, I took a deep, I may say a fraternal interest in the noble 
" boys in blue," especially the gallant lads from our own section ; 
and from observation, and information have accumulated incidents 
and reminiscences pertaining to them, which by request, I will 
attempt to narrate as best as I can. One cannot well detail events 
pertaining to the lives and deeds of those vanished spirits without 
incidentally connecting the living veterans, without occasionally 
mingling the jocose with the serious. The beautiful and patriotic 
ceremonies of the day, fitly symbolizing the ever fragrant memories 
of the patriot dead, bring to me none of the sad, wailing and sorrow- 
ful atmosphere of the tomb, that mournful episode is of the past, in 
those beautiful floral tributes to the brave men, who in their day 
served their country faithfully, I see but loyal honor to their 
memories and renewed incentives for the living to emulate their 
patriotism and devotion. In these few imperfect lines I propose to 
speak of the soldiers only as I knew them, how they lived, what 
they said, how they fought and how they died, and in doing so 
would not knowingly pen a word unfitting the place or occasion, 
or one calculated to wound the sensibilities of any living friend. 

The reverberations from the guns of Sumpter had scarcely 
ceased when the people of Castleton commenced preparing for the 
coming storm, in less than three weeks Capt. Hope's company 



33 

(afterwards B, of the 2d Vt.), with full ranks were taking daily on 
the village green, their preliminary lessons in military tactics. The 
company had their headquarters in the old Mansion House, then 
standing on the ground now occupied by the Bomoseen House. A 
brave and earnest set of boys they were, but when not on duty 
rollicking and jolly enough ; they certainly made things lively in 
and around Castleton during the bahny spring days of 1861, now 
twenty-four years gone. There was a flour store kept in one por- 
tion of the old barracks, and one of their amusements was trying 
to shoulder and walk around witli a barrel of flour, a feat but few 
of them could accomplish. Among nearly a hundred stalwart boys 
I can recall but George Eddy and Horace Tower. Thei*e came from 
Dorset and Manchester and joined the company, a comical fellow 
named Frank Jordan and a laughter-loving and light-hearted young 
Irishman named William Mahoney. Jordan commonly called 
" Manchester," when inspired by an unprofessional dose of " Vini 
Gallici " was noted for his unlimited capacity for perpetrating 
doggerel, on each and every occasion. Reeling in one day when 
Geo. Eddy was waltzing around with a barrel of flour on his 
shoulder, he was invited to try his hand at the job. Manchester at 
once allowed " that he had the power to shoulder a barrel of flour 
much quicker than Hod Tower, and when he got sober and ready 
could do it as quick and as handy as big George Eddy." While the 
regiment was at Camp Underwood, Burlington, prior to starting for 
the seat of war, Mancliester got rather boisterous one day, was 
arrested and the colonel caused him to march up and down the 
parade ground with a huge bag of sand on his shoulder; he at once 
began singing an improvised song: " When a poor soldier gets 
so drunk he can scarcely stand; Glory Hallelujah. The cruel colonel 
marches him up and down this choking sand; Glory Hallelujah." 
His melody was cut short by a stern threat from the colonel to 
have him gagged. Poor Manchester made a good soldier and prob- 
ably fills an unknown grave on southern soil ; and after life's fitful 
fever brave jolly George Eddy responded to the final roll call two 
years ago in Rutland; no doubt loving and patriotic hands have 
this day strewn his honored grave with fragrant memorial flowers. 
Gallant Billy Mahoney fills gloriously a soldier's grave. Pie was 
discharged from the 2d Regt. Vt. Vols., for disability early in 
1862. He came back to Vermont and passed a pleasant week in 
Castleton among friends here. I learned from him several months 
after, that he had recovered and joined the 10th Vt., whose color 
3 



34 

bearer he became; no record of valor or soldierly devotion to the 
flag, not even the heroic deed of his countryman Sergeant Jasper, 
of Revolutionary fame, who immortalized himself in its defence at 
Fort Moultrie, can eclipse the heroic daring and devotion recorded 
of brave Sergeant Mahoney. In an action by his regiment while on 
the advance to Mine Run, advancing' under a murderous fire they 
halted and wavered for an instant at a rail fence, Billy sprang like a 
deer over the fence, waved his colors as encouragement, the men in- 
stantly followed, drove the enemy from the crest of the hill they 
had occupied and held it until after sunset under a heavy fire from 
artillery and infantry at short range. 

At the battle of Cedar Creek on the 19th of October, 1864, the 
rebels had captured three pieces of artillery, a charge of the 10th 
Vt., was ordered and with the colors in front they advanced with 
aalcrity; charged up to the guns and recovered them; Sergeant 
Mahoney was the first to reach them and planted his colors firmly on 
one of the cannon, but at tbe immediate sacrifice of his brave heart's 
blood; a moment later his lifeless form was borne to the rear by his 
victorous comrades with the idolized flag of his adopted country 
firmly held in his dead embrace. Let us be thankful that the 
honored veteran who in other and stormier days, bore the stars and 
stripes through the iron hail of death on many a bloody field. 
Sergeant Byrne, who never wavered, shirked his duty, or surrendered 
his colors, though wounded nigh unlo death, is alive and with us 
this peaceful Memorial Day, bearing the old flag as steadily as in 
the days that tried men's souls. 

Orders against unauthorized foraging were generally quite 
strict in the array. On an occasion when the 2d Vt., were in 
camp at Brandy Station, Col. (then Captain) Johnson was passing 
up a road near the camp, he heard a rustling in the bushes near and 
looking sharply in discovered private James Bromley, preparing to 
dress a yearling sheep whose throat he had just cut; the captain at 
once " went " for Jim pretty sharply for his violation of orders ; he 
started up with a half comical, half friglitened look and affecting 
an air of injured innocence, exclaimed : " Yes captain the orders are 
all right, but I aint a going to allow any darned sheep to bite me." 
James was a peculiar fellow in many respects, but underneath his 
apparent oddity his heart beat as true to the cause of the Union as 
did that of his ancestors at Lexington or Bunker Hill when trying 
to found it. In the winter of 1865, having by meritorious conduct 



35 

been promoted to a sergeancy in his company, he was given a fur- 
lough and returned to visit his home in Danby, but in March, 
movements at the front began to give token of operations indica- 
ting the culmination of the long protracted struggle around the 
rebel capital. James grew uneasy at home. " I guess they can use 
Jim Bromley to about as good advantage down yonder now as 
ever," he said and started to rejoin his regiment. Before the expira- 
tion of his leave of absence and almost in the hour of final victory, 
he met a brave soldier's death April 2d, 1865, while gallantly 
charging with fellow Vermonters on the misguided enemies of his 
country's flag. 

In Oct., 1862, some days after the battle of Antietam, while the 
boys were on the march to Fredericksburgh, Va., one evening, after 
a hard day's march, Theodore King, Mike Hynes and " Eph." Potter, 
went down to a stream to fill their canteens and wash up; the re- 
port of a rifle near by startled them and the next instant a fine 
Southdown sheep broke through the thicket at their very feet, 
quick as a flash, "Eph" had his knife out, the sheep's throat was 
cut, and "Eph's" overcoat thrown carelessly, but securely over the 
carcass ; but none too soon, for directly two stalwart foragers with 
rifles poised appeared on the scene, making earnest inquiries for the 
vanished mutton. " Mike " Hynes in his gravest and most sedate 
manner assured them that they had not seen any stray sheep. No 
doubt his honest and austere, countenance bore such a striking re- 
semblance to the " Father of his Country " the searchers were con- 
vinced " he could not tell a lie," and continued their hunt in another 
direction. " Ethan " then and there first displayed his skill as a 
butcher, and the boys had mutton chop, mutton stew, and mutton 
I'oasted for supper; and choice slices of juicy mutton filled their 
knapsacks for the morrow's rations. I would not wish to vouch for 
the truth of camp rumors, or gossip, but it has been seriously 
hinted that the long legs of one of the actors in this little drama of 
the past, could carry him on a forced march in pursuit of a fat pullet 
or a frisky lamb as rapidly as ever they bore him to any bloody battle 
field from Bull Run to the Wilderness, but in consideration of the 
hardships he cheerfully endured for the old flag, his body perforated 
with honorable wounds in his country's defence, the many remin- 
iscences of army life he has favored me with, and the honor he has 
this day shown to his departed comrades I can freely forgive him 
even had he appropriated the last chicken in the confederacy. 



36 

Through the haze of a quarter of a century, in memory I see on our 
streets again, plucky, loquacious, little Tommy Durham, then com- 
monly called " Chub; " in his regiment Thomas was known as the 
" Company Atlas," he kept a diary in queer doggerel of all the 
army movements, criticized and planned campaigns with the gi'avity 
and self assurance of a major general. " What in thunder does little 
Mac. mean attempting such a movement as this at this time?" he 
would exclaim, " I'm blamed if I can understand this mixed plan of 
campaign myself ; " but when the time came for soldierly duty and 
daring, his old mother Albion never sent a pluckier or sturdier son to 
face the frowing ramparts of Quebec or the dark and grim Redan. 
At the terrible triangle at Spottsylvania, May 12th, 1864, in com- 
mon with his Vermont comrades he displayed the most unflinching 
bravery; rather than yield an inch he surrendered his brave life, his 
sturdy body pierced with numerous bullets. 

Perhaps I may be pardoned for alluding to a dear and cherished 
Castleton boy, whose honest voice and happy boyish laughter often 
resounded on our streets in the sunny days long past, the melody of 
whose hammer and saw industtiously plied on many of our village 
houses, often broke the stillness of the summer air. The breaking 
out of the war found him in Minnesota, he promptly enlisted in the 
2d Wisconsin Volunteers and followed the fortunes of his gallant 
but ill fated regiment wherever duty called. Regarding his fate 
permit me to read a communication which appeared in the Rutland 
Herald of July 18th, 1863, from the pen of the soldier's friend, the 
veteran Castleton correspondent of that paper : 

"Believing you to be always willing to chronicle the deeds of Ver- 
mouters, done in the defence of their country's flag, whether done 
by our own volunteers or such of them as are in the ranks of dis- 
tant states, I send you for publication a letter recently received by 
a young man in this town conveying intelligence of the death of a 
loved brother, a member of the brave 2d Wisconsin Regiment, he 
was a native of this town, had many friends here and elsewhere 
who will be pained to learn of his early death. 

" Camp 2d Wisconsin Volunteers, 
"near Emettsburg, Maryland, July 6, 1863. 
"Mr. James Brennan. 

" Dear Sir : I am under the painful necessity of informing you 
that your brother Michael was mortally wounded on the first inst. at 
the battle of Gettysburgh, Pa., while gallantly charging on the 
enemy, from the effects of which he died the same day. He died 



37 

nobly performing his duty, peace to his ashes. My sympathies ai'e 
with you in mourning the loss of a good man and brother, and a 
true and brave soldier. If there is any information you wish that 
I can give, I will cheerfully furnish it. 

" Very respectfully yours, 

" Wm. H. Harries, 
" Commanding Co. B., 2d Wisconsin Volunteers. 

" Mike was about 30 years old and no one here who knew him is dis- 
appointed at the assurance of his commanding officer that he died 
a brave and good soldier. (Signed) ' B. W. B." 

When the war broke out sturdy Peter Donelley, was working at the 
blacksmith's trade in this, his native town with Mr. Button, he joined 
the first company organized here but some misunderstanding caused 
him to withdraw in considerable vexation, but in the dark days of 
'62, when Company C, of the 11th Vermont, was organizing in this 
section, Peter threw off his apron one day and enlisted. A few days 
afterwards a friend who was partaking of a little refreshment with 
him says in half jest, " Pete, I thought you vowed when you kicked 
on the 2d, that the country might ' tumble,' you would never 
shoulder a musket ; " "yes, James," Peter responded, "but things 
have changed, the crisis is now upon us and I feel I must partici- 
pate." But if one of those Louisiana " Tigers " should come for 
you with his sabre-bayonet in poise, how would that strike you ? 
" Well my brave stay-at-home, I assure you I should be ready for 
the onset." The words spoken half in jest however, characterized 
the soldierly career of brave Sergeant Donelley. In one of the 
fierce fights near the Weldon railroad, where his brave and talented 
Lieut. Sherman fell, I believe, on the evening of the 23d of June, 
1864, during desultory fighting on the skirmish line, brave Peter 
was slain; none of his fellow soldiers saw him fall, but at the gray 
dawn of the following morning his body was found and buried by 
his comrades, and his resting place carefully and sorrowfully marked 
by the hand of George Oscar French, his suiwiving friend. They 
had been school mates and playmates in the same district, and 
familiar companions when advancing to manhood. Brave young 
French's memory has to-day received fitting tribute from the pen of 
affection — a gifted pen, one well qualified for the loving task, 
but I feel impelled to offer an expression of the admiration I 
entertain for the memory of a gallant soldier, whom I knew in the 
long ago days as a modest and intelligent boy, and whose clean and 



38 

manly record in the army of the Union did no discredit to that 
glorious old brigade, the memory of whose achievements will sur- 
vive so long as admiration for courage and devotion finds a resting 
place in the human heart. At Winchester, Cedar Creek, Fisher's 
Hill and the grand struggle around Richmond, which witnessed 
nearly tlie last throes of the dying confederacy, the tall and hand- 
some form of the brave youth was ever seen at the post of duty. Of 
the glorious termination of his young life, permit me to quote the 
following sentence from the report of the officer commanding his 
brigade detailing their operations on the memorable 2d of April, 
1865. " The young and gallant Lieut. French fell pierced through 
the brain while at the head of his company, leading them on to vic- 
tory." 

The winter after poor Donelley's death, his burial place then being 
within our lines, his body was recovered by his kindred, and 
buried in the Catholic cemetery in Fairhaven, where the remains of 
his parents repose. His people thought his inanimate clay the only 
memento that would ever reach them from the war-blighted soil 
where he had so bravely fought and nobly died. But in the sum- 
mer of 1865, when the white-winged dove of peace guarded, let us 
hope by the angel of reconciliation, was hovering once more over 
an undivided country, his sister Rosie, now Mrs. W. S. Warner, re- 
ceived a letter mailed in Richmond, from the rebel soldier who had 
met and killed her brother on that fatal June night, a year before. 
He stated that he had taken possession of his effects and he re- 
turned to her a letter the poor lad had a few hours before his death, 
written to her; he said he had his portmonnie and several other things 
belonging to him which he would cheerfully return, if she desired 
and would furnish particulars of his death. He expressed regret 
for the deed, but considered it one of the results inseparable from 
the fratricidal struggle they had been engaged in and hoped the 
people of the North and South would soon be one, in every thought 
and feeling. According to request he soon after returned to her 
all her dear brother's effects, even to a prayer book and a copy of 
Casey's Tactics, he had in his pocket when killed. I make the fol- 
lowing extract from his letter : " Acording to request I will now 
state how I came to kill your brother : we met on the evening 
of the 23d of June, on the farm of Dr. Gurley, some five or six miles 
from Petersburgh, I supposed him to be a scout sent out to make a 
reconnoissance and as that was also my business, I ordered him to 



39 

halt, he defiantly refused the second time, and turned as if to leave 
when I fired, and he fell, I went to the poor fellow and found 
him past speaking and nearly dead. He made signs for water 
which I got him and he soon after died. He was a good looking 
young soldier, in an artillery sergeant's dress, well clothed and 
equipped. I deeply regretted that I had no time to bury him, hut 
in passing the same spot the next day I saw a new made grave 
which I supposed to be his, I am glad you have his body, and 
hope you can forgive me for the deed, as you well know it might 
under the circumstances have been my lot to be slain by him." 

He further stated that he was born and raised near the city of 
Richmond, enlisted in April, 18G1, in the Richmond Greys (12th 
Va. Regt.), Gen. Mahone's Division, Gen. Lee's army; was twice 
badly wounded; the last time, some weeks after the incidents just 
related, during a charge on Gen. Burnside's colored troops, at the 
explosion of the mine, July 30th, 1864, and from the effects of those 
wounds had never fully recovered. 

The pale shadowy tents of those departed defenders of the Union 
are faintly looming across the dim voiceless valley. Many of the 
gallant men of 1861 to 1865, are making rapid marches in that di- 
rection, and ere another Memorial Day, will have joined the silent 
encampment. In view of the gallant deeds performed by those noble 
boys in blue, and the glorious results they helped to acoraplish for 
us, let their names and deeds be perpetuated and their memory 
lovingly cherished by those of us who for a brief hour, yet tarry 
this side the big divide. 



REMINISCENCES OF THE IST ReGT. Vt, VoLS,, BY THE ChAPLAIN, 

Rev. Levi H. Stone. 

The sentiment contained in the following stanzas from " Miles 
O'Reilly" are a fitting preface to the services of this hour, and \i felt 
by us will aid in rendering the occasion fruitful of good, now and 
hereafter : 

" Comrades known in marches many 
Comrades tried in dangers many. 
Comrades bound by memories many, 
Brothers let us ever be. 



40 

" Wounds and sickness may divide us 
Marching orders may divide us 
But whatever fate betide us 

Brothers of the heart are we. 

" By communion of the Banner 
Battle scarred, but victory Banner 
By the baptism of the Banner 

Brothers of one church are we. 

" Creed nor faction can divide us, 
Race nor Nation can divide us 
But whatever fate betide us 

Brothers of the Flag are we. 

" Comrades known by faith the dearest 
Tried when death was near and nearest 
Bound we are by ties the dearest, 
Brothers evermore to be. 

" And if spared and growing older. 
Shoulder still in line with shoulder 
And with hearts no throb the colder 
Brothers ever we will be." 

No day of the year, the Sabbath excepted, is more deserving of 
special, thoughtful, and tender notice than our decoration day. 

Periods of our country's history will most naturally come before 
the thinking patriotic mind. The old thirteen will appear on the 
canvas protesting and remonstrating against the severe and cruel 
edicts of the Mother Country, to be answered by demands still more 
inhuman, till further submission seemed not a virtue, but weakness 
and a vice. Hence our young Congress after patient consideration 
of such a movement, and the results that might, and probably would 
follow, on July the 4th, 1776, adopted that most wonderful paper : 
The Declaration of American Independence, a document, which for 
clearness and compactness of statement and fullness and conclusive- 
ness of argument, is not excelled by any state paper in the archives 
of this or any other nation. 

Then of course, followed the revolutionary seven years war, for 
these upstart and disloyal colonies must be subdued. But what 
force can be brought against the British lion ? 

Our government then, was imperfectly organized, with but little 
power at home, and no credit abroad. Our military composed of 



41 

farmers fresh from the field and the plough, the mechanic from the 
shopj and the merchant from the store. Can these compete with 
the trained armies of England — on the sea and on the land — a 
military well drilled, well fed and gorgeously clad, and the wealth 
of the world behind '? Against this mighty host our fathers were 
to contend. Aye more, and against the hired tomahawks and scalp- 
ing knives of the Indians. But such were the principles of these 
fathers of the Revolution, such their love of learning, liberty and 
religion, to be obtained if need be, at sacrifice of property, ease and 
life, that with them God ordained the defeat of England and the 
birth and growth of our country; and from its start, after the war 
though poor, yet we have grown from Washington's administration, 
through all political changes, from federal to democrat and from 
democrat to whig, from whig to republican and now democrat 
again, so that instead of the original thirteen states with three 
millions of people, we are now a nation of thirty-eight states 
with a population of sixty millions and territory almost without 
measure, states and territories rich in soil, forests and minerals 
grading from lead and iron to silver and gold, absolutely an over 
abundance in each and all. But an echo from the south. Deluded 
men have fired on Sumter. The old flag has fallen. Rebels seem 
to have triumphed. 

The news to the nation is like the shock of an earthquake. Are 
we going to pieces ? Is the history of a free government coming 
to be admired and imitated by other countries, about to be blotted 
from the records of the world ? iVo, God has not so ordered. To 
preserve our country intact, is the sicorti duty of the president, 
hence Abraham Lincoln calls upon the loyal states for aid, for this 
is an instance where force is to be arrayed against force. Preach- 
ing and praying though good and wise, are not the means to be 
used exclusively in replacing the iron hand which should hug the 
revolting states to their places. How promptly the states responded 
to the president's call, liistory has informed you. If any country in 
any age has shown more of self sacrifice than was shown here, we 
know not when nor where it was. Really men seemed to count not 
their ease and lives that our united country might be perpetuated. 
Wearying marches, hunger and death, more or less, were to be ex- 
pected, but who should be the victim could not beforehand be 
known. Pope's idea was a stimulating shield. He says : 

" Heaven from all creatures holds the book of fate 
All but the page prescribed their^present state. 



42 

From'brutes what men, from men wbat spirits know, 
Or wlio could suffer being here below ? 
The lamb thy riot dooms to bleed to day, 
Had he tJiy reason, would he skip and play ? 
Pleased to the last he crops the flowery food, 
And licks the hand just raised to shed his blood. 
O blindness to the future thus kindly given, 
That each may fill the circle marked by Heaven. " 

Ignorance and Ziope imparted courage. Insult to the nation's 
flag, a flag hitherto respected in all nations and on all seas, added 
nearly madness to courage. How rapidly the army was made izp to 
the required numbers and readily filled with new recruits, when 
vacancies occurred, I need not dwell to inform you. Of the char- 
acter and valor of officers and men, of their general intelligence, skill, 
courage, and success in battles, achieving victory after victory, till 
the climax of victories came, in the surrender of Gen. Robert E. Lee, 
with his misguided rebel host, I have no occasion to speak. Their 
deeds have been set forth by orators and poets, in story and in song, 
and to their sparkling eulogies, we heartily respond, in a loud Amen. 
But you will indulge me with a moment, while I allude to several 
things interesting to me and others of the 1st Vermont Regiment. 
Much might be said very justly of its superior make up, including 
as it did many from the learned professions, students from colleges 
and seminaries, intelligent farmers and mechanics. But we will not 
be guilty of fulsome contrast. 

John Walcot Phelps, was commissioned 1st colonel, by Governor 
Erastus Fairbanks, May 2, 1861. Col. Phelps was a graduate of West 
Point, and had served in the war with Mexico, His military ex- 
perience and high toned patriotism and morality rendei'ed him a suit- 
able person for the position. Peter T. Washburn of Woodstock 
was commissioned lieutenant colonel. This regiment left Rutland 
May Vth, passing through this town, as many of you will remember, 
arriving at Fortress Monroe on the 13th, 

We were soon removed to " Newport News," a point on the shore 
of James river. As other regiments were coming to the same point, 
Col. Phelps was made commander of the " Post " and Lieut. Col. 
Washburn acted as colonel; of both of these officers I can speak in 
high terms. To their chaplain they were very courteous. Col, 
Phelps as commander on hi?, feet was always at home. But on horse 
back seemed fearful. The horse sent to him was too full of mettle 
and spirit, so he would mount occasionally an old plug oi a thing and 
curl his heels to its side like a boy, unused to riding, and in fear of 



43 

falling off. The appearance was comical. He was humane and 
cared tenderly for his men. Once we were at breakfast, a messenger 
came for a physician; said Surgeon Sanborn, let him wait till " sur- 
geon's call." Col. Phelps straightened back in his chair, and said, 
I have seen the time when I could not well wait, a surgeon is needed 
when he is needed. The rebuke was felt and heeded. Once after 
a sermon from his chaplain from the text, " Show thyself a man," 
in which effort was made to fortify men against the evils of the 
camp so far from the " keeping influences of home," Col. Phelps 
said " officers and soldiers, we have had good instruction, let us heed 
it. We are Vermouters. When we left our homes, we brought 
our character with us. Let us behave so, that if we return we can 
take our good name back with us. ' Fall into line.' " 

These sentences, were like a nail, di'iven by a master's hand. 
Coming from an officer, they were doubly impressive. 

On a certain afternoon, some of our men conceived it smart, and 
perhaps right to go out on a foraging excursion. By and by they 
returned with a horse and an old wagon, loaded with various house- 
hold articles, such as old chairs, a pot and kettle, an old fashioned 
spinning wheel, a few dead, thin^ small hogs and a half-dozen half- 
grown goslings such as no one but a starving person would think of 
eating. Said Col. Phelps, what idea stimulated to this act ? The 
pigs and geese you would not eat, the wheels we have no use for, 
we are here to teach our Virginia friends good manners and the value 
of order and law, but such deeds will strengthen them in acts of 
rebellion. No more of this, sergeant cause this load to be returned 
at once. 

These instances illustrate the principles of Col. finally General 
Phelps. I have frequently met him since the war and found him the 
same earnest, warm friend. The last time in Brattleboro when rods 
away, discovering me on the street he hastened towards me and with 
extended hand: Chaplain I am glad to see you. Please dine with 
me to-day. I am at the " Brooks House." He was a good scholar 
in Latin, Greek and French. He was universally esteemed for his 
integrity and if he had enemies, it was because of quite determined 
opposition to secret societies and more especially to Freemasonry. 
He died last winter in Guilford, his native town I believe. 

Col. P. T. Washburn was a graduate of Dartmouth College, and 
a lawyer of high standing. He possessed naturally a military turn, 
was a good and I fully believe conscientious commander; and what 



44 

could not be said of ^all in his position, he was thoughtful of the 
rights and wishes of his chaplain. Like this: "Chaplain, what are 
your purposes about service this Sabbath ? " " Well, Col., I have 
thought if pleasing to you, we would have our service in connection 
with dress parade." The Colonel replied "that will please me and 
others. Then the entire regiment will be present" The regiment 
in hollow square gave me a better audience than can be found in any 
town in Vermont. 

In Oct., '61, Col. Washburn was elected adjutant and inspector- 
general of Vermont in place of General H. Baxter and was con- 
tinued in office till 1866, when he declined further election. His 
work in this department was admirably done, showing himself, an 
accurate accountant, a skillful organizer and a sincere patriot; sub- 
sequently he was elected governor of the state and died in Wood- 
stock during his term of office, which was completed by Lieut. - 
Governor Hendee. 

Mr. President I am overstepping the limit of time allotted me, and 
will therefore ask indulgence but for a moment. I allude to but 
one person more and he a private, and to him, because of the lesson of 
patriotism in the narrative. I allude to Benjamin Underwood of 
Bradford, and member of Company K, Bradford. He was the son 
of a widow and aged 23 years. He was tall, a fine figure and a color 
bearer. He hesitated about going to the war, but the company 
desired him to go. He felt since the oldest son he must remain and 
manage the farm. Said the good, godly mother, Benjamin, if Capt. 
Andrus and the company wish you to go, I think you had better go. 
It may be your duty, to help defend our common country, as well as 
others, I and the younger boys will manage the farm. This consent 
and advice settled the question. 

He was exposed to measles as was supposed, on his way to Rut- 
land, the place of "rendezvous," was sick and on his arrival at 
Fortress Monroe, went immediately into hospital, and died in a few 
days. He was buried away out among the pines where others be- 
fore him were laid. The march to his burial place, with arms 
reversed, was solemn in the extreme. His mother's and brother's 
grief was taken up by all and his company was in tears. He was 
tenderly lowered into his grave, a short address and prayer by his 
chaplain, the firing of the military burial salute, and all was over. 
But the mother and son are now where strife and grief are not 
known. 



45 



What Saved the Union ? By J. Albert Libbt. 

What saved the nation ? when treachery bold 
Turned on our flag with a heart grown cold, 
And legions in arms for her death were enrolled. 

What saved the Union ? the thundering voice — 
Rolling from musket and cannon in poise; 
Yes, but behind these the forms of our boys. 

What saved the nation ? the sabre, and sword, 
And bayonets fixed all awaiting the word ? 
Yes, but behind these the souls that were stirred. 

What saved the Union, the wives of the men, 

With the mothers, and sisters whose tears falling then. 

Hurried the dear ones from mountain and glen ? 

Yes, but the myriads who rushed to the field 
With love for the country that never would yield ; 
These saved the Union with courage blood sealed. 

What saved the Union ? the limbs ye have dropped 
As a gift to the foe if the war might be stopped, 
Soldiers like trees with the branches half lopped. 

What saved the nation, the wisdom of braves. 

Who marshalled the forces, and made free the slaves ? 

Yes, and the thousands of boys in their graves. 

These saved the Union, and now with our tears, 

We fling the May flowers through the on rolling years 

Tokens though silent yet stronger than cheers, 

God of the nation, now keep us in peace; 
As we from warfare, and h.atred may cease. 
While in our sadness we bend over these. 

Castleton, Vt., May, 1885. 



46 



Reminiscences of three Days, in and near Mobile, Alabama, 
IN 1865, BY Hon. Morris H. Cook, Mem., Yth Regt. Vt. Vols. 

At the oommeucement of the morning of the 12th day of April, 
1865, the 7th Vt. Regiment, immediately preceded by the 14th 
Regiment, Indiana Heavy Artillery, was on the march from Fort 
Blakeley to the Spanish Fort Landing, en route for the city of 
Mobile, Alabama, then in possession of the rebels. 

A sick and tired soldier of the 7th Vt., in this march taking ad- 
vantage of the darkness of the night, walked beside the 14th Indiana 
Regiment, until he came to the head of the column, and then would 
sit down and rest till the entire regiment passed him, and the 
colors of the 7th Vt., which Gen. Butler defamed without cause, 
came up ; and then he would resume his weary tramp in the same 
form. This he often repeated for the entire distance of 12 miles. 

The night being rather dark the chance for observation was 
limited, we passed over quite an extent of corduroy road, and road 
laid on pontoons, both of which were novel to me, but the darkness 
prevented observation by sight. We passed a huge pontoon train 
en route for Gen. Steel's army, which was to operate against Gen. 
Dick Taylor's command, which was supposed to be on the Alabama 
river. Of all the branches of the service a pontoon train is the 
elephant of the caravan, in the night time, when it appears at its 
biggest. It really appeared as we met it, as if the city was moving 
into the country on wheels ! Strictly it more nearly resembled a 
regiment of itinerating Daguerreian saloons on the march ! I felt 
towards it as I do towards a " drum major," when he appears with 
his baton and bear skin cap, at his biggest, apparently full nine feet 
high, and as formidable as Goliah of Gath. 

About 2 o'clock A, m., the head of this column arrived at the 
landing of the Spanish Fort, and soon a great shout arose, and cheer on 
cheer resounded through the Alabama pines. I soon foi'got I was tired 
and walked with my traps and things a full half mile, to find out what 
there might be so cheerful, to cause such great exultation, and 
found that a boat just from New Orleans brought the glad tidings 
that Gen. Lee and his whole army had surrendered to Gen. Grant. 
To say that we made " the welkin ring," would be tame, we filled 
all that country with a " joyful noise," we made the tall pine trees 
of Alabama tremble. We sent it down the line to regiment after 



47 

regiment following us, we made a cheer 12 miles long reaching to 
Blakeley. The confederates heard us in Mobile 15 miles away. 

We congratulated each other that the war was over, and we 
would soon go home ; and thei-e would be no more fighting ; but 
we soon found that the confederacy was like a snake, that while its 
head was crushed there was life in the opposite extremity, manifest- 
ing considerable vigor; in the commands of Johnson, Dick Taylor, 
and Kirby Smith in Texas. 

About 2:30 A.M., the 7th Vt. Regiment received orders to go 
on board the steamboat at daylight, and proceed to Mobile. This 
put a new face on the immediate peace prospect; either the con- 
federacy was dead and did not know it, or our dispatch over which 
we had cheered so lustily was premature. At any rate we were 
ordered to Mobile with 60 rounds of ammunition which did not look 
like a peaceful surrender of that stronghold. We went on board 
as ordered and Mobile had heard of our intended coming and was 
literally on fire for us. Not the city proper, but the walks, wharfs, 
and every thing that fire would burn to prevent our landing near 
the city was on fire, to keep the hated Yanks out of the city. 

The ride of 15 miles to Mobile was not a picnic or a pleasure 
party by any means. We could look south down the bay, and near 
by Fort Morgan lay a U. S. sunken monitor no portion of which, 
except the upper part of the flag staff was above water ; sunk by a 
rebel torpedo. Above and between us and Mobile lay two others of 
our monitors opposite the Spanish Fort, sunk by running on rebel 
torpedos, but the water was so shallow that these were used as shore 
batteries in reducing the Spanish Fort and most excellent service 
they did. I have listened on divers days and times to the pleasant 
enquiries which the shells from these monitors made in going to the 
Spanish Fort among the rebels, when high in air and on their way, 
would seem to enquire, " which ? " " which ? " " which ? " and then 
in the Fort would explode with a thundering noise. 

We were preceded by a steamboat with great wooden arms and 
steel finger hooks with an " omnnmi gatherum" arrangement fishing 
up the sunken torpedoes ahead of us, in the channel of the bay, as the 
boat waltzed from right to left, and left to right, aliead of the 
boats behind it. The torpedoes when hooked up, in the distance 
resembled lobsters on a string or wire. 

We stood light on deck expecting an explosion, fearing our 
pioneer would miss some torpedoes and we should find them too 



48 

late. We looked with anxious solicitude to the eastern shore of the 
bay which the Yankees had taken in case of an explosion, and we 
could swim that distance. We made slow progress for steam con" 
veyance in feeling our way through this 15 miles of torpedo net 
work. 

About the middle of the bay we passed a horse going out to sea 
with the tide, which asked as plain as a horse could ask that we 
take him aboard, but we could not stop to catch a horse, or express 
sympathy for the unfortunate, we were bound for Mobile direct. 

Some five or six miles from Mobile some reckless fellows on a 
boat about 100 feet from us, climbed on the gang way which was 
swung up like an awning, and under which a great many soldiers 
sat and stood, to be out of the sun, and some infantry companies 
had stacked arras. So many men climbed on this gang way or im- 
provised upper deck that the chains supporting it broke, and the 
whole thing came down on those below, killing and wounding a 
large number, and crushing up the guns as if the same had been tin 
guns. It seemed doubly sad to witness the fate of these men 
who had escaped death in all previous battles to be killed in this 
trap sprung by a lot of reckless fellows who were out of their 
places and seemed bent on mischief; possibly they thought this the 
safer place in case of a torpedo explosion. 

We neared the city of Mobile and steamed up in full view of the 
city and greatly wondered why the rebels- did not open fire on us; 
and almost wished they would fire that we might get over being 
scared; but not a gun was fired, and we landed some two miles west 
of the city and went on shore; some men who had got there ahead of 
us or were in the secret told us where to land, and the various regi- 
ments marched up to the city, not into it. The 7th Vt., was so fortu- 
nate as to camp on a fine piece of land just outside of the city on the 
west. Strict orders were that passes should not be given to soldiers 
as the rebel soldiers and police had run away, and the city was en- 
tirely of itself defenceless against disturbance and improper con- 
duct; but a corporal of the 7th Vt., had a wife and family living in 
Mobile and he was an exception, and had Col. Holbrook's pass 
to go home for the night. Great fear came on the people of Mobile 
when " The Yanks " appeared before the city. Women fainted, 
children screamed, and ail confederates bewailed in loud lamentations, 
that Mobile had surrendered to the Yankees. The city was rife with 
rumors of all sorts of dire calamities to befall Mobile and the in- 



49 

habitants thei-eof. The women were told that the Yankee ultima- 
tum was "beauty and booty," for the whole array; and every 
woman felt in her inmost soul that she possessed in an eminent 
degree those dangerous attributes and qualities in war, but great 
possessions in time of peace, and that they were in a corresponding 
degree sore afraid of the horrid " Yanks." When this solitary Vth 
Vermont soldier appeared in Mobile, the women beholding him 
screamed on being approached by him. They feared he had come 
to select his beauty and booty. He could not get near one of them 
for some time. He finally cornered an elderly woman, old enough to 
be his mother, when her fear somewhat abated as he did not 
offer immediate violence, he enquired for the residence of his wife 
and family, which the good woman did not know, but she called 
some other women who did know the family, and when they found 
he was hunting for his own wife and no other woman, these women 
to the number of 500 or more gathered around him; and when 
assured that if they offered no violence to the Yankees, they 
would not be harmed, and this he would guarantee as an officer in a 
Yankee regiment (being a corporal !). They were so delighted with 
this assurance of safety, that in confidence and gratitude they 
kissed him and took him on their shoulders and carried him to his 
wife, the whole company following in procession ! He sat in state in 
his house that night until past midnight, assuring delegations that 
he would guarantee the safety of person and property to all the in- 
habitants who were civil and respectful to the Yankees; and past 
12 o'clock the last delegation left our Mobile Yankee soldier's resi- 
dence, assuring others on the way to enquire, that they had it per- 
sonally from a Yankee officer now in the city with his family, of 
high rank, certainly not less than that of a captain, that all well de- 
serving people would be safe and protected in all their rights by 
the Yankees. 

The novel position in which our Vermont soldier was placed 
this night, and the distinguished attention received by him, the 
kisses included, nearly turned his head. I tented with him several 
days and he never tired of talking about it and he personally attri- 
buted this reception to his personal bearing as a soldier and not to 
the army at the gates of the city, and the gates wide open. 

Second Day. — 'The morning of the 13th of April, 1865, was un- 
usually fine and that Mobile confederate soldiers had fled like 
wild startled deers and left their domestic dears to our kind care 
4 



50 

and keeping, made the day appear most charming and auspicious. 
We all had full rations and ample time to cook the same, and time 
and opportunity to examine the fortifications outside and around the 
city proper, and it was a great wonder to me that the confederates 
did not do more harm to the guns and property which they aband- 
oned. They tipped over some guns, spiked a few, and did a little 
other mischief and ran away. It was evidently the work of a lot of 
boys and small ones at that. Near 11 o'clock a, m., our army re- 
sumed its march and passed through the city of Mobile in pursuit 
of the enemy, expecting to be confronted by the confederates a few 
miles out of the city, and every thing was made ready for the con- 
test. As I remember it, we passed through some of the main streets 
from the west side to the north-east part of the city in fine martial 
array. The bands and drum corp playing " Yankee Doodle," better, 
louder, and stronger than I ever heard it before or since. The peo- 
ple who had not fled from the city or hid, came out to witness our 
progress and appeai'ance; some were mute, some sad, some cried 
in apparent agony; the colored people and a few whites laughed as 
if it was a grand show and they were pleased with the procession, 
I did not witness any welcome among the whites except from a 
white woman from the Emerald Isle, who took off her bonnet and 
swung it over her head and cried out with energy " Hurrah for the 
Yanks." I did not see but one United States flag raised by the 
citizens, and that was a very old one. The army filled the width of 
the streets and the ground was a little undulating and as "we went 
marching along" at a spanking pace, it seemed as if the army was 
a resistless river of men, horses and artillery, ever rolling on. Yankee 
Doodle was dressed up in the world-wide celebrated " red, white 
and blue " with the stars interspersed in their proper places, and 
carried heavier guns than the ancient gun " large as a log of maple," 
and a load for a yoke of cattle. There were guns which took 
six and eight horses to haul and handle. Yankee Doodle beat "The 
Bonny Blue Flag" " clean out of sight." When the army reached 
Whistler five miles from Mobile, we were attacked by some rebel 
cavalry, and Col. Day of the 91st Illinois, commanding the brigade 
to which the 7th Vt., was attached, rode up and said in stentorian 
tones : " Boys, the enemy are in our front in force, firing, unsling 
knapsacks and sail in," The 7th answered with roaring cheers and 
several tigers. 

A guard was detailed to take charge of the knapsacks and bag- 
gage, and we started on a double quick for the "Johnnies," who 



51 

killed and wounded some of our men in the edge of a piece of 
woods and then run again. We followed about two miles as hard 
as we could I'un; but we could not catch up with their horses. We 
came back to Whistler, dug some trenches, and felled some pine trees 
to guard against a night attack by cavalry, but the cavalry did not 
appear. This was our last fight; we saw confederates after this 
in the distance but they were of a very retiring demeanor. 

The 7th Vt. regiment had the distinguished honor of going across 
the country from Mobile to Mcintosh's Bluffs on the Tombigbee 
river, and being a part of the escort of Gen. Dick Taylor and other 
confederates, down the river to Mobile, and after this service was 
performed encamped at the " Two Mile Creek," on the Mobile and 
Ohio railroad, so called because it is two miles from Mobile, we had 
been there quite a number of days and witnessed sundry railroad 
train loads of cannon and various other implements of war, with a 
large amount of ammunition captured by the U. S. army from the 
confederates carried past our camp en route for the arsenal of 
Mobile. This gave us much pleasure as it was being taken from the 
rebels, and would compensate the United States in some degree for 
the thefts by Thompson and other confederates. 

Third Day. — We were much elated and hoped we should get all 
the war stores in the confederacy. One day just after a car load of 
shells and cannon had been carried past us, I was startled by a most 
fearful noise louder than the voice of " many thunders," in the direc- 
tion of Mobile city. My first impression was, that a battery of the 
largest guns had opened on us within six rods, and casting my eyes 
towards Mobile, I saw a great flame and a dense cloud of smoke 
arise over the city and looking up at an altitude of some two or 
three miles above the city, the air was filled with timber and frag- 
ments of the U. S. arsenal,^^ which had exploded with about one hun- 
dred tons of powder and fixed ammunition. The sound of the explo- 
sion was terrible ; louder than any man in the U. S. service had ever 
heard, even Gen. Butler's little amusement at Fort Fisher was a 
very tame affair compared with this frightful explosion. No one 
dared to attempt to visit this scene of devastation and destruction 
and death, because the huge piles of shell deposited in the arsenal 
had in part been thrown over the city and were exploding with 
frightful rapidity. Those of you who have witnessed the explosion 
of fire crackers by the thousand in a barrel, can have some idea of 
the frequency of these cannon shell explosions. It was almost a 



52 

contiiiuoiis roar without any definite space in time between explo- 
sions. After a time, there came times in which there was a lull 
between explosions. Then there would be a lull between explosions 
to be resumed again with redoubled fury. 

The number of men, horses and mules killed, will never be exactly 
known; I will guess it was between 500 and 1,000, maybe more. 
The modern western cyclone is an object of terror and power, but 
this explosion was greater and more terrible than any known cyclone. 
In proof of this assertion I will state that buildings were swept 
away and not a fragment of them could be found; and when the first 
force of the explosion had passed throwing shells through the city, 
which was darkened by the smoke so that people who were not 
killed could not see where to run, and it seemed that the furies 
had fired a broadside into the city and not having killed every 
living thing, was smoking out the people and shelling the city 
to finish all not killed by the first explosion. The noise made by 
the subsequent explosion of the shells was so great that the screams 
of the wounded and dying could not be heard for a long time, 
and the bravest stood aghast with wonder and terror, for no one in 
the city could see or learn the cause until the smoke lifted. Some 
thought it was an earthquake. Some thought the Yankees bad re- 
turned and were cannonading the city and had suddenly destroyed it, 
and no one near the magazine was left to give any account of how 
or where it happened and what was the cause thereof. The most 
commonly received opinion of the cause of this terrible calamity 
was that it arose from carelessness of some one in the magazine. If 
this was the fact the careless fellow did not live to render the stupid 
excuse for homicides with firearms, that he " did not know it was 
loaded," for not a fragment of any one in the magazine could be 
found with a search warrant. The whole magazine was thrown 
miles away. 

Some persons might think the 4th of July fire cracker fiend, the 
irrepressible, ubiquitous, omnipresent, small boy, would have had a 
joyful time in beholding this exhibition of fireworks had they been 
present in Mobile city on this terrible occasion. Such would not 
have been the fact, these fellows would have howled with fear or 
been suddenly still lest the angel of death should find and kill them. 
I saw a place more than 40 rods from this magazine where a brick 
house stood, with not a brick or stone or any part thereof remaining, 
but the top of the ground was shaved off as if a huge scraper drawn 



53 

by a cyclone had passed over it. I saw a man who was in the 
second story of a house which was blown all to pieces and blown 
away, and the most of the people who were in it at the time killed. 
He said he had no recollection of the event, he was unconscious for 
a time, and the first he remembered after the explosion which he 
did not hear, was running in the streets to avoid some great bodily 
harm, but where or how he could not tell. 

No man can describe this explosion. Those near were killed or 
terribly wounded. Those in the city were blinded by smoke or 
made unconscious by the terrible concussion and noise, and could not 
form a judgment until the smoke lifted and they made inquiry : 
" What's up ? " or rather " what's down ? what has happened ? " 
Those at a safe distance, who were too far off to see anything to de- 
scribe were more fortunate. All we could say from witnessing at our 
camp was as I have described, the terrible noise heard, the sight of 
the fragments in the aii*, the huge flame and great cloud of smoke 
which arose. The wind favored us, the 7th Vt. Vols., in blowing 
the smoke to the east of us and we knew from the direction, and the 
fact that there was no other quantity of powder stored in Mobile, 
that the arsenal had gone up in fire and smoke ; but the cause in this 
woVld will in all probability never be made known. But this was 
true of it, it was greater and more terrible than an earthquake or 
cyclone, because when these strike a town, and go through it and 
quit, they do not turn around and settle a dark pall over the destruc- 
tion wrought, and then cannonade the town for half an hour with 
artillery and mortar shells. 

There was terrible suffering in Mobile. The smell of the blood 
of the slain, citizens, soldiers, horses and mules, was very offensive. 
The flies came in swarms like the Egyptian frogs and other pesti- 
lences of old. I was in the town one day, fighting flies and looking 
about for evidence of destruction, and wanted something to eat, and 
called at a booth or restaurant, saw two men eating and three men 
fighting flies off these men and their food. The flies were too much 
for me, I bought something and carried it to camp. 

If I had had the power to visit the rebellious city of Mobile with 
a special judgment for its treason, this calamity was more severe 
than I could have the heart to inflict. One of the saddest things in 
this lamentable affair was that so many of our boys should pass 



54 

through so many dangers in the field and then after the war was vir- 
tually over, should be killed or wounded by carelessness or assassi- 
nation. 

I must not omit to mention our unfortunate assistants, and dumb 
friends; the horses and mules killed on this occasion, which was very 
large ; and which was greatly increased from the fact that just be- 
fore the explosion one of those great southern thunder showers 
occurred and the horses and men sought shelter in cotton presses and 
other buildings. A cotton press at the north would be called a 
cotton shed, as these are open on one side at least but all have large 
heavy roofs. Most of these buildings were a considerable distance 
from the scene of explosion, but so great was its power that it either 
threw the buildings down or spread the sides thereof and drew the 
rafters from the plates and the roofs fell upon the men, horses and 
mules below, killing or wounding hundreds, which might have 
escaped the debris and missiles of death and destruction in the open 
air. To prevent a pestilence a great many dead horses and mules 
were burnt, which was a sad sjDectacle to witness, and offensive to 
the smell. 

But after all there is no use in trying to give a description of this 
affair, as well might one attempt to describe an earthquake, no 
language can describe this terrible sight, and effect of the Mobile 
explosion of May, 1865. We can give some idea of the noise ; for 
instance an ounce of powder exploded nearly deafens one near it, 
and here was more than 3,200,000 ounces powder and shell ex- 
ploded, much more than was used at the battle of Waterloo, and 
here were hundreds of confederates and union soldiers with hun- 
dreds of horses swept away into one mighty windrow and hurled out 
of existence or maimed for life. Death in this case was no respecter 
of persons. " The blending of the blue and the gray" here was not 
censurable as it was not voluntary. Here the faithful horse bore 
his master company so far as human sight was concerned, to death. 

As I do not feel able to find suitable language to properly set 
forth the horrors of that occasion, I will take the liberty to adopt 
the language of Lord Byron, who in describing another but no more 
terrible scene, a part of which thus reads, of that destruction : 

" The thunder clouds close o'er it which'when rent, 
" The earth is cover'd thick with other clay, 
" Which her own clay shall cover, heap'd and pent \ 
" Rider and horse, — friend, foe, — in one red burial blent." 



55 



Sketch op a Southern Prison, By J. Albert Libby. 

Soon after the war of the Rebellion, while spending a winter in 
South Carolina, it was my privilege to visit more than once the 
Stockade built by "Southern Chivalry" for the soldiers of the 
northern states who might be captured during the fraternal con- 
test. 

This prison yard was some two miles away from Florence R. R. 
Station, in an out of the way region; and here I was stirred with 
an interest which until this day has not wholly departed, for my 
mind took in a picture that hangs distinctly now on memory's wall. 

The enclosed ground I was told, would measure eighteen acres; 
and the surface lay in two gentle slopes, edging down to a creek 
that ran sluggishly thi'ough the middle, looking much more like ink 
than water. 

The land on both sides was swampy, but log bridges lay here 
and there, to connect the higher grounds. The log huts, though 
the timbers were hardly large enough to be called logs, stood thickly 
over all the waste, and being back from busy centres the desolation 
and the silence altogether, made the place seem like a city rudely 
built by pigmies, a great number for a temporary stay, and then 
deserted; this because the huts were so small, for many of the little 
houses were made for one, and many more for only two, and 'used 
I should judge to sit in, and for sleeping places, away from the suu 
and storms, and cold. I often noticed the marks of Yankee skill in 
the construction of these buildings, as I passed around. I was told 
that the soldiers had to buy the stuff for these shanties, and very 
many who had no means, and perhaps no courage and strength 
to build these enviable, yet pitiable abodes, made themselves buri'ow- 
ing places in the earth to shield them from the scorching southern 
sun, and from the horrid chill of the wintry nights; with all their best 
clothing stripped from them by rebel hands. Ah ! we shall never 
know their sorrow. 

There was pointed out to me the shanty of Florena Budwin, who 
fought for her country in male attire, and perished here. She was 
known only as a soldier boy, I was told, till the time of her death. 
I walked these grounds with an aching heart, while hearing the reci- 
tals of many woes. 



56 

The dead line was still visible, and the high posts stood in their 
strength, all around, banked outwardly nearly to the top with what 
was now solid earth. I shall not record here the most sickening 
scenes of this stockade described to me, and some of which my own 
eyes looked upon. 

The last time I visited the place, the tongue of fire, was licking 
up within, all the marks of the once I'ebel prison, as they were pre- 
paring the grounds for a crop. I bore away some remembrancers of 
the dreary spot, one was a grape vine root. It was the second day 
of April, and this beautiful little vine was running over, and cling- 
ing to one of the lonely huts, throwing out its sweet buds, as if no 
sorrow had ever been there; I tried hard to make it live at my home 
in Maine, but it jjined away and died, perhaps like the poor boy 
over whose prison home it had begun to climb. 

They said to me the dead cart was passing continually to and 
from this place. Let us go to the burial ground, it is an acre well 
inclosed, and thickly packed with northern men, low in their 
graves. We passed through the gateway around which climbing 
rose-trees clung, and walked above the nameless sleepers, whose 
rest is just as sweet as though taken near their far off homes, under 
the falling tears of their nearest friends. 

I said nameless graves. So they were; the records of most of 
them were lost, before the government could place the head-boai'ds; 
just here, however, is the grave of the one I spoke of, Florena Bud- 
win, it is well cared for, and indeed all are.' The guardian of the 
cemetery lives in a cottage close at hand, and has this for his 
business; but I should judge this grave has had around it the touch 
of affection's hand. The rose bush was there with its modest buds, 
and other things of taste and beauty. Under the inscription of the 
name, and home, was this significant verse : 

" Asleep in Jesus, far from thee 
Thy kindred, and their graves may be ; 
Yet thine is still a blessed sleep 
From which none ever wake to weep.'' 

I left this peaceful graveyai-d, having walked it through with a 
sense of melancholy, quite different from those feelings which pos- 
sessed me as I sauntered over the stockade. There indignation 
mingled with my grief, for I was in the slaughter pen where raw 
pumpkins it was said were thrown and the boys ate them like pigs. 
The prison yard was where they slowly killed our soldiers; but the 



57 

graveyard the place where we could say, with softened sadness, 
poor boys, it is all over now, take your rest till the trump of reveille 
rings out o'er all the fields of the worthy dead. 
Castleton, Vt., June 1st, 1885. 



Relics Exhibited and Described. 

Frederick L. Reed, orderly sergeant of Company D, 14th regi- 
ment of Vermont volunteers, exhibited a small diary which he kept 
during his army life. Mr. Roseboom of Benson was killed within 
five feet of him. Lieut. Bosworth of B'airhaven was wounded in the 
leg lying near him. Mr. Moriarity was wounded in the arm with 
pieces of the same shell that wounded Bosworth. The artery was 
severed and blood spurted into Reed's face. Sergeant Dickinson 
said to him "Reed, good God, are you hit in the head ?" 

That portion of Mr. Reed's diary covering the battle of Gettys- 
burgh, we copy entire : 

Tuesday June 23, 1863. Received orders to be ready to move. 
I hope we will not go. Nothing new in camp today only all are 
Avondering where we are going. A. J. D. has gone to bed and I 
must go. I hope to have a good night's rest. 

Wednesday 24. Wolf Run Shoals. Boys getting ready to move 
in the morning. They all feel well about moving. We have got 
to carry three days' rations. Wrote a' letter to a;. A. J. D. has 
gone to bed and I must follow his example,- so farewell. 

Thursday 25. Camp in the woods, one mile north of Centerville. 
Started from Wolf Run, 7 this morning. It rained all night ; we 
got wet. It is reported that the Rebs are at Wolf Run now. We 
are all feeling well; nothing to eat, only hard tack. 

JBhdday 26. Camp near Harrington Station in a meadow. We 
marched very slow to-day; all are feeling good. I am a little sore 
footed but 1 am bound to stand it. This is a nice country. We 
expect to see fighting to-morroAV. It has been a good day to march. 

Saturday 27. Camp near Edward's Ferry, Md. Marched 20 miles; 
very tired to-night ; feet blistered. Troops passed all night ; we 
met all the Boys at the Ferry. Crossed the Potomac on pontoons. 
There is a big force with us. I wanted to write this morning but 
cannot send letters. 

Sunday 28. Camp near Adamstown. Marched all day. Adams- 
town was a very nice little place. I see five or six nice looking 
ladies. The Rebs were in this town last night but have gone to- 
day. Paid fifty cents for a loaf of bread. 



58 

Monday 29. Camp eight miles out of Frederick. Marched all 
dry ; Oh how tired I am to-night ; one man from our company fell 
out ; we do not know whether he is dead or not. I had a good swig 
of whiskey to-day, it does me more good than anything. 

Tuesday 30. Camp at Emmittsburgh. We have marched one 
hundred and ten miles since we started. This is a splendid country ; 
I never saw anything to beat it. We expect to see fighting before 
long. My feet are so sore I hai'dly can step on them. Paid one 
dollar for a loaf of bread. One of our company fell out and we had 
to leave him ; we do not know where he is. 

Wednesday July \st. Started from Emmittsburgh at 10 a. m. ; 
arrived at Gettysburgh at 5 p. m. I see artillery fighting, and to- 
morrow morning we expect to fight like devils. Boys all tired out. 
It is rather sad to think we have got to fight to-moiTow. 

Thursday 2nd. 9 a. m. This morning we are all getting ready 
to go into the fight ; perhaps this is the last time I shall ever 
write in this book ****** js^q \^ ^^s not ; thank God 
for it ; such a fight I never want to see again. Sam. Fisk was 
wounded. Oh such a roar of cannon no man ever heard ! 

Friday 3f?. I am writing now lying flat on the ground ; the shells 
are flying all around us ; just a moment ago one piece of a shell hit 
Aiken on the back. It looks now as though we all would be killed. 
Roseboom was shot by a sharp shooter. 

Saturday Ath. 8 a. m. Did not fight to-day for we fought so 
hard yesterday. Boys feel sad this morning. I made out the 
report of killed, wounded and missing in our company : 2 killed, 
6 wounded and six missing. I got two bullet holes in my coat, 
but, thank God, I am still living. The Rebs have retreated. 
Our brigade fought like devils. 

Sunday 5th. Advanced this morning at 10 a. m. I hardly think 
we shall see any more fighting. Company D was detached for guard 
for the Hospital. We are in hopes to remain here until our time 
expires ; I hope we will. 

Monday Qth. A very fine day to-day. Jim. Goodrich and myself 
went to a house and got breakfast ; that is the first time I have had 
anything to eat since we left the Run. This is a pleasant place 
where we are. 

Tuesday ^th. Went out foraging to-day ; got a good dinner, 8 lbs 
butter, six loaves of bread 50 cts. a loaf, 40 bushels corn, 8 bushels 
rye, and some straw to lie on ; we are not going to starve as long as 
there is anything to be bought. We now and then hear a report of 
a cannon. 

Wednesday 8th. I do not feel well to-day ; I have not got over 
the fight yet. I am almost used up. It has rained almost all day. 
To-night it is pleasant, I would give five dollars if I could hear from 
Benson, but I cannot. 



59 

Thursday %th,. Very pleasant day to-day. I slept almost all day. 
We are having gay times ; plenty to eat ; that suits us ; yes it does. 

Friday lOth. Dick Hibbard and myself went down to the city of 
Gettysburgh to-day ; we took dinner at the hotel. The houses are 
completely pierced with bullet holes ; it is or was a very pretty 
place. 

Saturday llth. Sick to-day, I would like to be at home for I am 
a little afraid of a fever. It is very warm. I paid one dollar for a 
loaf of bread to-day ; my money will soon be gone if I keep on. 



Rev. J. Albert Libby presented a hickory cane which he cut in 
the Rebel stockade at Florence, South Carolina ; it was growing out 
of the "deadline." 



Dr. James Sanfoi'd presented pieces of wood from the stockade at 
Andersonville Prison, Ga. These pieces were gathered by Mr, 
George W. Whitlock, of Eufaula, Alabama, in 1881. 



Dr. John M. Currier exhibited the following interesting relics : 
Bronze British coin found on the battlefield of Hubbardton in 1878, 
bearing date 1737 ; another bronze coin found a few rods west of 
Fort Warren in Castleton in 1877 bearing date 1775 ; also a Conti- 
nental copper coat button found near the same place in 1883 ; a 
screw driver to a gun, which formerly belonged to Col. Noah Lee ; 
from the resemblance to its form. Screw Driver Pond (now called 
Glen Lake) received its rustic name ; which lake empties its limpid 
waters into West Castleton Bay nearly opposite the beautiful island 
of Neshobe. 



60 




The accompany- 
ing engraving, de- 
signed for the back 
of a Confederate 
banknote, is printed 
from the original 
pLate, the property 
of Mr. James Cum- 
mings of Castleton, 
who was a private 
in Co. D, 4th Regt. 
U. S. Cavalry ; and 
was transferred to 
Co. M as sergeant. 
After his discharge, 
he was clerk in the 
Quarter Master's De- 
partment, Cavalry 
Division, District of 
EastTennessee, Gen. 
A. C. Gillan, com- 
manding. Mr. Cum- 
raings writes : " It 
was taken from a 
section of the train 
that was bearing the 
ai'chives of the con- 
federacy south after 
the evacuation of 
Richmond in April, 
1865. The train was 
intercepted in North 
Carolina and cap- 
tured by the cavalry 
division, district of 
East Tennessee,com- 
maiided by Gen. A. 
C. Gillan. The plate 
was i^resented to me 
ill April, 1865 by a 
comrade who was 
the captor." 



61 



Graves Decorated in Hillside Cemetery. 
Selah Gridley Perkins, M. D., Captain Co. H., 1st Regt. Vt. 
cavalry. Killed at Ashley's Gap, Va., Sept. 22, 1862. 

George O. French, Lieutenant in Battery C, 11 Regt. Vt. Vols. 
Killed in action at Petersbargh, Va., April 2, 186-5. His monu- 
ment bears the following inscription: "Erected by his comrades. 
He was loved and honored by all that knew him and died as a true 
patriot for his country." 

Henry C. Atwood, M. D., Assistant Surgeon, 5th Regt. Vt. Vols., 
born Jan. 21, 1837, in Chester, Vt., graduated at Castleton Medical 
College in 1858. He collected a large cabinet of minerals and an- 
tiquities of all kinds including old books; and after his death Aug. 
9, 1871, his collection of minerals was presented to the State Nor- 
mal School at Castleton, by his widow. 

H. F. Smith, M. D., Assistant Surgeon in 3d Regt. Vt. Vols., 
born in Castleton, Vt., Oct., 1829, died Jan. 23, 1871. 

Merritt H. Sherman, Lieut. Co. C, 1st Regt. Vt. Artillery. Killed 
in action in front of Petersburgh, Va., June 23, 1864. Aged 22 
years. 

Rev. Edwin M. Sherman, Sergt. Co. C, 11th Regt. Vt. Vols. 
Lost a limb at Winchester, Va., Sept. 19, 1864. Died April 27, 
]876, aged 29 years. 

Myron B. Sherman, Mem. Co. C, 1st Regt. Vt. Artillery. Died 
at Burksville, Va., April 14, 1865; aged 20 years. 

Henry Hobart Hosford, Mem. Co. F., 14th Regt. Vt. Vols. Born 
Feb. 11, 1821; died Sept. 19, 1863. His monument was erected by 
his affectionate sister. 

James H. Remington, only son of John H. Remington and Betsey 
Maria Stephens; born in Castleton, Vt., May 19, 1843; died in the 
United States service, at Camp Grithn, Va., Dec. 24, 1861. 

Harrison Ingleston, Mem. Co. I., 5th Regt. Vt. Vols. Died in 
Castleton, May 30, 1862, aged 42 years. 

John lugleston, Mem. Battery B., 11th Regt. Vt. Vols. Died in 
Rochester, Feb. 5, 1864, aged 21 years. 

William Parkhurst, Mem. Co. B., 2d Regt. Vt. Vols. Son of T. 
and E. R. Parkhurst. Died March 20, 1876, aged 43 years and 9 
months. 



62 

Thomas P. Durham, Mem. Co. B., 2d Regt. Vt. Vols.; son of 
James and A. W. Durham; born in Whitehall, N. Y., June 1, 
1843; killed at the battle of the Wilderness, May 12, 1864. 

Marcus L. Eaton, Mem. Co. B., 2d Regt. Vt. Vols. Died at 
Camp Griffin, Va., Nov. 30, 1861, aged 34 years. 

John L. Wilkins, Pri. Co. I, 5th Regt. Vt. Vols. Died in Cas- 
tleton, April 27, 1866, aged 33 years. 

Edgar Ross, Mem. Co. C, 2d Regt. Vt. Vols. Died at St. 
Mary's Hospital, Dec. 15, 1861, aged 18 years. 

George K. Griswold, Mem. Co. B, 2d Regt. Vt. Vols. He was 
the only son of Franklin and Philena Griswold; died at Liberty 
Hall Hospital, Va., June, 1862, aged 17 years. 

James P. Timony, Mem. of an Illinois Battery; was in the bat- 
tles of Belmont, Fort Henry, Donelson, and Shiloh, in which he 
was severely wounded, and left the service. Died Dec. 3, 1874, 
aged 39 years. 

Harvey Shepard, Mem. Co — , — Regt. Vt. Vols. Died April 
3, 1879, aged 63 years. 

Joseph S. Perkins, Mem. Co. — , 1st Vt. Cavalry. Born Sept. 1, 
1841; died March 10, 1868. 

Wilbur E. French, Mem. 6th Battery Light Artillery, Mass. 
Vols. Son of E. W. French of Castleton; born July 26, 1846; 
died at Hart, Mich., March 2, 1881. 

Thomas Boutelle. 

Jacob Wheeler, soldier in the war of 1812. 

Frank Ellery, Commodore in the United States Navy; born July 
23, 1794; died March 24, 1871. 

MAJOR ABEL MOTJLTON, Obit. 8th Oct., 1776. iEtat 35 
yrs. It is supposed that Major Moulton was the second person who 
died in Castleton. His remains were first buried on the brow of 
the hill south-west of the new slate mill in the village of Castleton. 
A few years after the Hillside Cemetery was opened his remains 
were disinterred and buried in the north-east corner. 

We copy the stanza on the tombstone : 

" While Spring revives these fields around 
Here their first owner mouldering lies, 
Still as these hills, cold as this ground. 
Till GOD 3haU bid the dead to rise." 



63 

We are unable to state that he was a soldier of the Revolution, 
but here insert his epitaph and the stanza following it which may 
lead to the discovery of the fact whether he was or was not. 



Graves Decoeated in the Chuechtard. 

The number of soldiers' graves in the old churchyard in Castle- 
ton, is not definitely known; but it probably exceeds that generally 
supposed, and certainly exceeds the number decorated on Memorial 
Days. From the information that the compiler has received 
from Mr. A. C. Shaw, Mrs. Dea. Caswell, Rev. Mr. Steel's History 
of Castleton, and other sources, the following list has been made: 

Col. Noah Lee, who was very active all through the Revolution- 
ary war, and was at Yorktown at the surrender of Cornwallis, died 
in Castleton, May 4, 1840, aged 96 years. 

Nehemiah Hoyt, who was the third man who entered Fort Ticon- 
' deroga, when captured by Allen, May 10, 1775, and who was in the 
battle of Bennington, was born in Stamford, Conn., May 14, 1753, 
and died in Castleton, April 10, 1832. 

Zadock Remington, who was a lieutenant in the Revolutionary 
war, died June 6, 1838, aged 93 years. 

Rufus Branch, who was in the Revolutionary war, died March 
10, 1821, aged 82 years. 

Gen. Isaac Clark, who was in both the Revolutionary war and 
the war of 1812, died Jan. 31, 1822, aged 74 years. 

Capt. Williams, who was killed in the skirmish east of Castleton 
village on Sunday morning, July 6, 1777, was first buried* near the 
place where he was killed; on July 4th, 1821, his remains were dis- 
interred and reburied in the village churchyard with military cere- 
monies. 

Capt. John Hall was mortally wounded in the same skirmish with 
Capt. Williams, where Fort Warren was afterwards built, and where 
John J. Langdon now resides. His remains were first buried in the 



* When excavation was being made for the railroad through the old fort 
t;round, human bonea were exhumed, but nothing further was done with them 
than to dump them with the dirt. 



64 

graveyard on the east side of the road to East Hubbardton, about 
forty rods north of Fort Warren, on a lot now. owned by Mary Red- 
field, The east end of this lot on the brow of the hill, was used as 
a cemetery by the early settlers in this portion of the town until the 
churchyard was opened in the village north of the new church.* 
Mrs. Caswell, who lived on the west side of the street opposite, 
thinks there were neai'ly one hundred buried there of all ages ; 
mostly without headstones. Darius Branch purchased this lot in 
1835. A short time afterward he became deranged, and ordered all 
those who had friends buried there to remove them, but only Lieut. 
Ellas Hall responded. He had the remains of his father John Hall 
and mother, disinterred and reburied in the new churchyard. The 
remaining graves were all plowed over, and from that time to the 
present, the only indications of a graveyard left exist in the upturn- 
ing of human bones, on the eastern slope of the hill, in cultivation. 
He was in his 55th year when killed. 

David Sanford, captain of a Vermont volunteer company in the 
war of 1812. He died in Castleton, April 2, 1842, aged 74 years. 

Lieut. Elias Hall and his brother Alpheus were taken prisoners at 
the skirmish in Castleton, taken to Ticonderoga, and shortly after- 
wards made their escape. He was in the battle of Stillwater when 
Burgoyne surrendered. He died June 10, 1848, aged 94 years. 

There are the graves of several others, who may have been soldiers 
of the Revolution or of the war of 1812, but time will not admit 
of an investigation before going to press. It is hoped that before 
another Memorial Day a full list of the soldiers will be made out, 
and proper measures taken to decorate their graves, 

Mr. A. C. Shaw, now 89 years of age, informs me that when the 
news reached Castleton that the British had invaded the Champlain 
Valley, his father Augustus M. Shaw took a load of volunteers and 
started for the seat of invasion, with their muskets and ammunition ; 
but when they had reached Burlington they learned that the battle 



* It was a long time before the location for the new church could be decided 
upon. Many wanted it near the graveyard ; others wanted it near where the 
brick church uow stands. Considerable feeling was manifested by the two 
parties towards each other ; they were called west enders and east enclers ; finally 
the west enders prevailed and the church was located on " the Green ; " in time 
harmony was restored. As early as 1787 there were as many buildings north 
of the fort as there were on " the Green." Quite an effort was made to make 
that locality the main part of the village. 



65 

of Plattsburgh was over. Mr. Wm. Moulton remembers this load 
of volunteers. The load contained John Meacham, Samuel Moulton, 
Darius Branch, Augustus M. Shaw, and several others whose names 
cannot readily be called to mind. 



Veterans Present — Members of John T. Sennott Post G. A. R., 
West Rutland, Vermont. 

Commander. 
George Brown, Pri. Company D, Yth Regt. Vt. Vols., and Co. H, 
14th Regt. Vt. Vols. 

Sen. Vice- Commander. 
J. D. Perkins, Pri. Co. F, 14tli Regt. Vt. Vols. 

Chaplain. 
L. T. Barber, Pri. Co. C, 11th Regt. Vt. Vols. 

Members. 

Thomas B. Bliss, Pri. Co. A, GVth Regt. N. Y. Vols., and Co. E, 
1st Regt. U. S. Vet. Vols. 

Andrew McLaughlin, Sergeant Co. C, 2d Regt. Rhode Island 
Vols. 

James McLaughlin, Pri. Co, K, 5th Regt. Penn. Reserve Vols., 
and Co. D, 191st Regt. U. S. Vet. Vols. 

Thomas Lynch, Pri. Co. A, 13th Regt. Vt. Vols. 

Edward M. Sheppard, Drummer Co. I, 1 7th Regt. Vt. Vols. 

John Carroll, Pri. Co. C, 10th Regt. Vt. Vols. 

Timothy Collins, Pri. 2d Regt. Vt. Light Art. 

William H. Castle, Corp. Co. C, 11th Regt. Vt. Vols. 

A. K. Miller, Pri. Co. D, 123d Regt. N. Y. Vols. 

E. D. Cross, Pri. Co. K, 4th Regt. Heavy Artillery. 

William Woodbury, Pri. Co. C, 2d Regt. Vt. Vols. 

H. A. Gould, Pri. Co. B, N. Y. Vols. 

William P. Smith, Pri. Co. B, 9th Regt. Vt. Vols. 

Brien Maloney, Pri. Co. A, 23d Regt. Wis. Vols. 

M. V. B. Ashley, Sergt. Co. E, 153d Regt. N. Y. Vols. 

Albert Fish, Pri. Co. A, 1st Regt. Vt. Vols. 



66 



Veterans and Members op other Posts G. A. R. 

Hyde Westover, Member of Capt. Asa Scofield's Company of 
Light Horsemen, in the War of 1812. 

Rev. Levi H. Stone, Chaplain 1st Regt. Vt. Vols. 

Prof. Abel E. Leavenworth, Captain Co. K, 9th Regt. Vt. Vols. 

J. W. Ross, Pri. Co. B, 2d Regt. Vt. Vols. 

James Corey, Pri. Co. A, IHth Regt. Vt. Vols. 

John Stevenson, Sergt. Co. I, 22d Regt. N. Y. Vols. 

James Miner, Pri. Co. C, 10th Regt. Vt Vols. 

Benj. P. Hall, Wagoner, 7th Regt. Vt. Vols., promoted to Wagon 
Master of the Uei)ai tment of the Gulf. 

Oscar Prootor, Pri. Co. E, 2d Regt. U. S. Sharp Shooters. 

E. D. Johnson, Pri. Co. B, 2d Regt. Vt, Vols. 

Henry H. Pattison, Sailor under Admiral Porter, on board Flag 
Ship " Black Hawk " 

S, F. Cluff, Drummer Ist Regt. Vt. Vols. 

A. J. Ware, Sergt. Co. B, 7th Regt. Vt. Vols. 

M. H. Cook, Pri. Co. I, 7th Regt. Vt. Vols. 

Hiram W. Walters, Sergt. Co. G, 1st Regt. Vt. Cavalry. 

G. S. Scribner, Sergt. Co. H, 2d Regt. U. S. Sharp Shooters. 
Afterwards changed to Quarter Master Sergeant. 

Michael Hynes, Pri. Co. B, 2d Regt. Vt. Vols. 

CuUen Wheeler, Pri. Co. H, 1st Regt. Vt. Cavalry. 

Patrick Byrne, Color Sergt. Co. C, 11th Regt. Vt. Vols. 

T. J. Gault, Pri. Co. F. 14th Regt. Vt. Vols. 

Marquis J. Bixby, Pri. Co. C, 16th Regt. Vt. Vols. 

Albert H. Butler, Pri. Co. A, 29th Regt. Mass. Vols., and Co. C, 
4th Regt. U. S. Vols. 

D. G. Burt, Pri. Co. F, 1st Regt. U. S. Artillery. 



DRY GOODS, CLOTHING, 

HATS AND CAPS, BOOTS AND SHOES. 
y\IALL PAPER, CROCKERY, GLASS WARE, 

A-nd Sjive Mionev, is at 

A. L . RAN SOM^S, Castleton, Vt. 

iOlOSllI iOISi; CAJfLlf 01, ff ., 

HORACE B. ELLIS, Proj^rietor. 

Fresh Milk, Szveet Cream, Jersey Butter, and Veg- 
etables, from his own Farms. 

LAKE BOMOSEEN WITHIN A SHORT DRIVE. 

Rooms Nearly and Neatly Furnished. 

DEALER IN 

Dry Goods, Boots and Shoes, Groceries, Hardware, 
Paints and Oils, Plaster, Lime, Cement, &e, 

CASTLETON, - - VERMONT. 

Cor:Lfectio2:Ler37-- 

We are purcliaain^ our CHRISTMAS GOODS for 1885. CHRISTMAS 
CARDS and all the Novelties ot the season. 

E. H. ARMSTRONG k CO., CASTLETON, VT. 



LIBRftRY OF CONGRESS 



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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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